Compared to 2019, Mumbai witnessed a surge of 4.31 per cent in suicide cases in 2020. Last year, Mumbai witnessed 1,282 suicide cases against 1,229 in 2019. In 2020, 1,085 people in the age group 18 to 60 died by suicide as against 1,027 in 2019. Similarly, 121 senior citizens died by suicide in 2020 as against 92 in 2019.

Jeetendra Ghadge, founder member of The Young Whistle Blower Foundation under Right To Information (RTI), has sought the details of suicide cases in the city for 2020 and 2019. “Rising suicide cases indicates that people are hit hard by financial crises, family problems, physical and mental illness during the pandemic,” Ghadge said.