Times of India
18 February 2011
By Pradeep Gupta
Bhiwandi, India

Unable to bear the medical expense for her fourmonth–old son’s incurable disease, a woman killed herself and the child in Bhiwandi’s Gauripada area on Thursday morning. According to the police, the woman, Suvarna Adegokula (29), jumped into Vaharal Devi lake, taking her son Venu with her.

Suvarna’s husband Shreenivas, a loom worker, woke up around 5 am on Thursday, and found that his wife and son were missing, said a police officer. He woke his daughter Veni up and together, they set out to look for Suvarna and Venu. A few residents of the area, too, joined them in the search, he added.

"The residents noticed a saree floating in the lake, which is about a kilometre from Shreenivas’ residence. They immediately informed Shreenivas, who identified the saree as his wife’s. Subsequently, the fire brigade was called in to fish out the bodies," said the officer.

Sub–inspector P B Barkund of the Bhiwandi police said, "The child had been suffering from a congenital mental disorder. Doctors had told the family that he cannot be cured. He had to be taken to KEM hospital in Mumbai every other day for treatment. Most of couple’s earnings were spent on medical bills and travelling."

During the probe, the police learnt that Suvarna had been depressed for the last few days over the expenditure. But she never discussed the issues that were bothering her, said the officer.

Shreenivas told TOI, "My wife was upset about our son’s condition and the expenditure we were incurring on his treatment. Things had seemed normal the night before. I returned home from duty at 10.30 pm on Wednesday. The family had dinner and we went to sleep around 11.30 pm as usual. I never thought my wife would take such a drastic step." The police have registered a case of accidental death and investigation is on.