Bengaluru techie dies by suicide after 11-month-old son drowns in bucket

A senior police officer said that the incident came to light on Wednesday evening when the woman’s husband returned home from work and found the door locked from inside.

Bengaluru: A 29-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide after she was unable to save her 11-month-old son who is suspected to have strayed into the bathroom and fell into a bucket filled with water, while she was away. The incident happened in their house in Chandra Layout in Bengaluru.

The deceased have been identified as Prathibha Wali and her son Agastya. The family was residing in Byaraveshwaranagar on Nagarabhavi Main road. The woman and her husband, both software professionals, were employed in private companies.

A senior police officer said that the incident came to light on Wednesday evening when the woman’s husband Mahantesh Wali returned home from work and found the door locked from inside. After receiving no response despite repeated calls and knocks on the door, he entered the house using a spare key.

He was shocked to find his wife hanging from a ceiling with injuries on her wrist. Their infant was found lying unconscious on the bed. He found a handwritten note at the spot reportedly stating that their child had fallen into a bucket filled with water and died, and that she was unable to save him and thus decided to take the extreme step. The note also contained an apology to him.

Prathibha Wali and her son Agastya, residents of Byaraveshwaranagar on Nagarabhavi Main road

Chandra Layout police who were alerted about the incident also found an empty strip of Dolo tablets near the body, indicating that she may have consumed them before taking the extreme step.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the police suspect that the woman, distressed over her child’s death, died by suicide. However, a case of unnatural death has been registered and further investigations are on.