Unable to afford CBSE school for kids, woman ends life with daughter

LATUR: A 26-year-old woman allegedly ended her and her five-year-old daughter's life by jumping into a well as she could not send her two children to a CBSE-affiliated school for want of money, police said. The incident took place at Malegaon in Nilanga tehsil of central Maharashtra's Latur district two days ago. An accidental death report was registered at Aurad Shahajani police station on Wednesday.

The deceased were identified as Bhagyashree Venkat Halse (26) and Samiksha Venkat Halse (5). The woman's husband owns one-and-half acres of land and the family's livelihood depended mainly on herding goats, a police official said. As per preliminary probe, Bhagyashree wanted to send her son and daughter to a CBSE-affiliated school, which was beyond her husband's means. She would often be depressed because of this, her family members told police. She had lost her mother last year and it too contributed to her depression, family members told police.

On Tuesday evening, around 5:30 pm, she went to a well owned by another farmer with her daughter. From there she made a video call to her husband Venkat Halse, asking him to see the daughter's face for the last time, and then jumped into the well with the girl. The two bodies were retrieved by the police later with the help of local residents. The woman had also tried to take her son, who was playing, to the well along with her, but he slipped away and thus had an escape, according to the family members. Further probe is underway.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.