Ghaziabad psychiatrist Dr Hemika Agrawal, 40, dies after fifth-floor fall
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Dr Hemika Agrawal, a 40-year-old psychiatrist, died on Sunday after allegedly falling from the fifth floor of her apartment at Officers City-2 Society in the Raj Nagar Extension area of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Family members have stated that she had been struggling with severe emotional and mental health challenges since her divorce approximately 18 months ago.
What Happened
Residents of the housing complex and bystanders nearby rushed to assist Dr Agrawal after the incident and transported her to a hospital in the vicinity. She was, however, declared dead on arrival by attending doctors. Police personnel reached the location shortly after being informed and initiated the required legal procedures.
Family's Account of Her Struggles
Her father, Dr R. Chandra, a well-known psychiatrist in Ghaziabad, confirmed that his daughter had been dealing with depression and significant mental stress following the breakdown of her marriage. The family stated that the end of the marriage had deeply affected her emotional well-being in the period leading up to the incident.
What Authorities Said
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Nandgram), Ziauddin Ahmad, said that some preliminary details have emerged during the enquiry, but the exact sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the death will only be established after a comprehensive investigation and a post-mortem examination. Authorities have, as of now, not officially confirmed the recovery of any suicide note. Police are recording statements of relatives and other relevant persons while also scrutinising evidence collected from the scene.
A Broader Pattern
The incident comes just days after a separate case in Haryana's Rohtak district, where Muskan, the 23-year-old wife of international kabaddi player Sheelu Balhara, allegedly died by suicide at her residence in the Meham area on 1 August. Muskan had married Balhara in December 2023 and the couple had a son, Hardik, born in November last year. A forensic team was called in to examine the site and collect evidence in that case as well.
Notably, the death of a trained mental health professional to suspected emotional distress underscores the often-overlooked reality that psychiatrists and psychologists are not immune to the conditions they treat. Mental health professionals in India face significant occupational stress, and institutional support structures for them remain limited. Investigations in both cases are ongoing.