A businessman from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, ended his life with his wife by jumping into the Ganges in Haridwar. While the husband's body has been found and cremated, his wife's body remains missing. A suicide note left by the couple revealed that they ended their lives due to unbearable debt. The tragic incident has left everyone stunned. The couple is survived by two young children.
The businessman, identified as Saurabh Babbar, and his wife, Mona Babbar, traveled approximately 100 km to Haridwar by bike. They took a selfie together for the last time and sent it along with the suicide note to a friend via WhatsApp, before jumping into the river. Saurabh's body has been recovered, but the search for Mona's remains continues.
Reports suggest Saurabh had amassed a huge debt and was struggling with loan installments. Overwhelmed by the financial burden, he decided to end his and his wife's lives in the Ganges. In his suicide note, Saurabh mentioned that they were drowning in debt and could no longer cope with the interest payments, leaving them with no choice but to embrace death. He also mentioned they would send a selfie from the suicide spot.
The Husband’s Body Found, Wife Still Missing
Saurabh's body was discovered on August 12 in the Ganga Canal, but there has been no sign of his wife so far. The tragic incident has plunged the family into deep grief. Saurabh's body was brought back to Saharanpur for the last rites. Meanwhile, search efforts for his wife Mona are ongoing, involving both the police and divers.
Source: aajtak
Relatives say the couple had been married for about 18 years and had two children: a 12-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son who has a disability affecting his legs. Saurabh operated a jewelry business in Kishanpura Market and ran several committee systems (informal loan clubs). He reportedly managed around five committees, each involving 200 members, with each member contributing a ₹2,000 installment. The tenures of these committees had matured, and payouts were due.
Final Call to Family Before Death
The business was floundering, and Saurabh found himself unable to pay the committee members. Harassed by creditors, Saurabh took the drastic step. With his wife on the bike, he traveled about 100 kilometers to Haridwar and jumped into the Ganges. Before the jump, he made a final call to his family, which has since gone viral on social media. In the call, Saurabh stated that they were at Haridwar and were ending their lives by jumping into the river.
Source: aajtak
'Trapped in a Web of Debt'
In his suicide note, Saurabh Babbar wrote, “I, Saurabh Babbar, am so deeply trapped in a web of debt that there is no way out. In the end, my wife Mona Babbar and I are ending our lives. Our property in Kishanpura is for our two children. They will live with their grandmother. We trust no one else. We’ll share a photo on WhatsApp before we end our lives.”
Saurabh and Mona Babbar took a photo together on a bridge near the Ganges in Haridwar and sent it alongside the suicide note to a friend on WhatsApp. They then jumped from the bridge into the river.
The friend who received the suicide note and photo immediately informed Saurabh’s family, prompting them to approach the police. Search operations were launched, resulting in the discovery of Saurabh's body in the Ganga Canal in Haridwar’s Ranipur Kotwali area, but Mona remains missing. The search continues with the involvement of police and divers.