A young medical representative leapt off the terrace of the 22-storey V.V. Towers on the Ambedkar Veedhi, plummeting to his death before a shocked crowd below on Thursday morning.
Narasimha (28) crashed down on a parked SUV, smashing the rear windscreen and leaving a deep dent on its roof.
Terrace entrance
Police officials posted at Visvesvaraya Towers, which houses several government offices, said Narasimha took his life around 11.50 a.m. after accessing the terrace entrance through the ladder located near the lift machine room on the 22nd floor.
During the fatal leap, a jutting sunshade sheared off a part of Narasimha’s leg, which landed near the road. Employees and visitors reeled in shock at the sight of the body, the blood and the smashed glass of the car. The car, incidentally, belongs to M.S. Ravi Shankar, Commissioner, Directorate of Municipal Administration.
Wife pregnant
Narasimha, a resident of Kalidasa layout in Srinagar, is survived by his pregnant wife, father Narasimha Murthy (65) and mother Ramakka. Swetha, whom he married a year and a half back, is expecting their baby next month.
Narasimha was a medical representative with Mahaveer Pharmaceuticals in Chamrajpet. His parents said he had been on medical leave ever since he had fractured his right leg two months ago in a motorbike accident. He had not gone to work since then. His parents are understood to have said he left home at 8.30 a.m. saying he was going to a temple.
Sources said his wallet, ID card and some files related to a job were found on the spot by the police. They also said the family was financially strained and that his parents had health problems.
Building inspection
This is the second similar death at V.V. Towers. Seven years back, a woman had plummeted to her death. Asked about the security arrangements, M.S. Biradar, assistant engineer at the V.V. Towers, told The Hindu public access to the 22nd floor leading to the terrace is restricted.
However, on Thursday morning, all the doors of the top floors, including the emergency exits, had been opened for building inspection.
Though the Fire Department is located on the same floor, the officials had gone down to participate in the ongoing inspection at the time of Narasimha’s suicide.
The body was taken to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem. The police are now investigating Narasimha’s motive.
