Greater Noida: Coronavirus positive woman sets herself on fire, dies
In a shocking incident, a 52-year-old woman died in Greater Noida after she set herself on fire on Thursday morning. The woman, identified as Archana, was apparently upset that she tested coronavirus positive. Her family said she had gone unusually silent on Wednesday. She lived with her husband, a retired Air Force personnel Jaiprakash Sharma, a son, and two daughters.
She killed herself while her family members were sleeping
As per the police, the incident happened around 4 am. Archana doused herself with kerosene in the room she had isolated herself in. The family members were asleep at the time. Her husband found her body after he woke up, nearly three hours later. She is believed to have suffered 70% burns. Her coronavirus test results had arrived on April 11.
Family was shocked to find her body
"She had grown unusually silent on Wednesday. The family did not suspect anything was amiss and was shocked to find her body on Thursday morning," Badalpur SHO Dinesh Kumar told TOI.
Link between test report and extreme step not established
Based on his interaction with the bereaved family, a senior official told PTI that a link between the coronavirus test report and her extreme step couldn't be established. "The family told the police that she was upset over her COVID-19 test result but it remains inconclusive if she took the extreme step because of that," the officer added.
Her son had also tested positive, has now recovered
The police revealed the body was disposed of by medical experts. A post-mortem wasn't conducted and further legal proceedings are underway. DCP (central Noida) Harish Chander informed that Archana's son had also tested positive and he has now recovered. Kumar said the rest of the family members have tested negative and have been asked to follow all precautions.
If you're having suicidal thoughts, please seek help
In case you need help or know someone who does, you can reach out to AASRA for suicide prevention counseling. Their number is 022 2754 6669 (24 hours). You can also contact the Hyderabad-based Roshni NGO at +914066202000 or COOJ at +918322252525. Sneha India Foundation, which works 24X7, can be contacted at +914424640050. Vandrevala Foundation has trained counselors, and their number is 18602662345
