A 52-year-old businessman from Matunga, Philip Hitesh Shah, tragically jumped to his death from the Atal Setu, part of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), early Wednesday morning, as reported by news agency PTI. This incident occurred just two days after a deputy manager from a nationalized bank ended his life by leaping off the same bridge. The manager’s body was discovered washed up on the shores of Navi Mumbai on Tuesday, according to police reports.
Authorities have identified Shah, who lived with his family in Matunga, as being depressed in recent months. The family suspects that this mental state led to his decision to take his life. “The businessman, Philip Shah, ended his life by jumping off the Atal Setu on Wednesday morning. Shah, a resident of Matunga in central Mumbai, drove his sedan car onto the Atal Setu, parked it at some point, and jumped into the sea,” a police official stated.
Police Response and Investigation
CCTV staff monitoring the bridge noticed a parked car, prompting them to alert a rescue team. First responders quickly arrived at the scene to search for Shah. “Following a search operation, they found him,” added the police official.
Shah was transported to a hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. His identity was confirmed using his Aadhaar card, which was located in his car. The police indicated that he had been under significant mental stress leading up to his death. A case of accidental death has been registered at the Nhava Sheva police station in Navi Mumbai.
Prior Incident
In a separate but related incident, on Monday morning, Sushant Chakravarti, a deputy manager with a nationalized bank, parked his SUV on the Atal Setu and also jumped into the sea. His wife noted that he was facing work pressure at the bank’s Fort branch in south Mumbai.
A search and rescue operation was initiated, and the Sewri police were able to locate his family based on the vehicle’s license plate. On Tuesday, authorities were notified that a body had washed ashore at JNPT in Navi Mumbai, which was later identified as Chakravarti.
Chakravarti leaves behind his wife and a seven-year-old daughter. The police have also registered a case of accidental death in his case.
About Atal Setu
The ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’, commonly referred to as the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), was inaugurated in January this year. This six-lane bridge spans 21.8 kilometers, making it the longest sea bridge in India, connecting south Mumbai with the satellite city of Navi Mumbai.
