Woman, baby saved from suicide attempt at airport

CISF officials noticed a young woman holding a baby in hand and loitering at the Chennai airport from Thursday night, but assumed she would have come there to see off someone. However, around 12.20 am, the woman tied the child with her using the saree and then tried to jump from the second floor. The CISF and airport police who noticed this rushed to the woman and prevented her from jumping.

Later after enquiry, police identified the woman as A Mariyammal from Cuddalore and found her child, a boy, was 18 months old. Police said Mariyammal’s husband passed away few months ago in an accident and she was later abandoned by her relatives. Mentally disturbed by the upheavals in her life, she came to Chennai two days ago. On Thursday, she did not have money to feed the child, leading her to decide to end their lives. Realising her plight, the police gave her food before sending them both to a shelter home in Teynampet. Police also contacted the Cuddalore Superintendent of Police to trace her relatives.