365 attempts recorded since Feb 2021; 127 persons died after ending lives; Sukoon helpline providing online counselling to people; Will submit detailed report on suicides to CS, hopeful Govt will take steps to plug trend: SSP SDRF Haseeb-ur Rehman
SNS KASHMIR
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Sep 21 :
Post Covid-19 pandemic, Kashmir has witnessed a huge spurt in the suicide attempts and suicides as figures reveal that since February 2021, the Valley witnessed 365 suicide attempts while 127 persons died after taking extreme step.
The data prepared by the SDRF, which is available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), suggest that from February 2021 onwards, 365 attempts of suicides were recorded while as 127 persons died after committing the suicide. “238 survived after taking extreme steps,” the figures reveal.
The data states that district Budgam reported highest number of attempt to suicides at 72 followed by district Baramulla at 61. “Similarly, Ananatnag district recorded 55 suicide attempts and Kupwara 51. Bandipora saw 34 suicide attempts, followed by 19 in Shopian and 15 in Pulwama. District Kulgam recorded 25 suicide bids and Srinagar 17,” the figures revealed, adding that that in total, 365 suicide attempts were recorded from February 2021 to date.
The figures disclosed that 127 people died after taking extreme steps that includes 17 in Srinagar, 11 in Ganderbal, 08 in Bandipora, 09 in Shopian, 08 in Pulwama, 11 in Budgam, 31 in Anantnag 10 in Kulgam, 15 in Baramulla and 07 in Kupwara.
Talking to KNO exclusively, SSP SDRF Hasseeb-ur-Rehman said that post Covid-19 pandemic, Kashmir has seen a spurt in suicide related incidents. “There are many reasons and the most common ones are financial issues and domestic issues. We are receiving a lot of distress calls on the Sukoon help line where we provide immediate counselling. There is a need to plug the growing trend,” he said. The SSP SDRF said that they are going to submit the report to Chief Secretary J&K A K Mehta for action. “We are hopeful that government will act on the report and accordingly steps will be taken to address the issue,” he said—(KNO)