India lodged over 1.64 lakh suicides in 2021, highest ever in a calendar year: Govt data
New Delhi (PTI): India recorded over 1.64 lakh deaths due to suicides in 2021 an average of nearly 450 daily or 18 every hour, with the figures reaching highest for any calendar year so far, according to official data.
Of those who died by suicide, there were nearly 1.19 lakh males, 45,026 females and 28 transgenders, data from the National Crime Records Bureau's 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021' report showed.
A sharp rise in such deaths has been noticed in 2020 and 2021 as compared to years before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the data suggested.
In 2020, 1.53 lakh deaths by suicide were recorded across the country, according to the data of NCRB, which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The report showed that the number of suicide deaths in 2019 was 1.39 lakh, in 2018 it was 1.34 lakh, in 2017 it was 1.29 lakh before it spike over 1.50 lakh-mark in 2020 and 2021.
According to the NCRB, it has been compiling suicide deaths data since 1967 when the country had reported 38,829 such fatalities in the calendar year.
It was in 1984 that the number of suicide deaths crossed the 50,000-mark for the first time in the country and it crossed the 75,000-mark in 1991, the official figures from corresponding time period showed.
However, it was in 1998 that the number of suicide deaths crossed the 1 lakh-mark as 1.04 lakh such fatalities were recorded that year, the figures showed.
There are various causes of suicides like professional or career problems, sense of isolation, abuse, violence, family problems, mental disorders, addiction to alcohol, financial loss, chronic pain etc, the NCRB said in its annual report for 2021.
The NCRB also said that it collects data on suicides from police recorded suicide cases.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
