A 30-year-old dance teacher in Delhi was rescued from the Yamuna River after allegedly jumping into it due to immense financial stress stemming from his inability to pay the Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) for an iPhone. The incident occurred on Friday evening near Bhola Ghat in the Kalindi Kunj area of southeast Delhi.
Police personnel on patrol noticed the man, identified as Deepak Kumar, jump into the river and immediately alerted the flood department. A rescue team with a boat was quickly dispatched, locating Kumar and bringing him to safety. Kumar, a resident of Okhla, reportedly told police that his income had decreased in recent months, making it difficult to meet the monthly payments for his iPhone. This financial pressure, he stated, led to considerable stress and prompted his extreme action.
Following his rescue, Kumar received counseling from the police. His wife and brother-in-law were called to the station before he was sent home. This incident echoes a similar tragedy that occurred on the same day in Maharashtra, where three members of a family died after falling from a cliff in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district following an argument related to iPhone EMIs.
Reports from Maharashtra indicated that an 18-year-old, his father, and mother died in the incident. The teenage son had reportedly jumped from a hill after a dispute over the payment of his iPhone’s EMI. His parents, attempting to rescue him, also fell to their deaths. The Maharashtra incident has brought to the fore broader concerns about consumer debt and its potential impact on mental well-being in India. Studies suggest that financial pressures, including those related to consumer loans, can significantly contribute to mental health issues and stress among individuals.
The economic toll of mental health conditions in India is substantial. Estimates suggest that mental health disorders could cost the country over US$1 trillion in lost economic output between 2012 and 2030. Factors such as job insecurity, performance pressures, and financial difficulties exacerbate stress levels, particularly among vulnerable populations. The lack of affordable mental healthcare and the stigma associated with mental illness further compound these challenges, often leading individuals to suffer in silence.
The Chenab Times News Desk