BENGALURU — A tragic incident in Bengaluru’s Bhairaveshwara Nagar area has left a young family devastated after a 29-year-old woman and her 11-month-old son were found dead inside their home on Wednesday. Police believe the infant’s death was a tragic accident, followed shortly by the mother’s death.
Sequence of Events
According to police reports, the incident occurred while the mother, Pratibha Wali, was working from home. At some point during the day, she had gone to the terrace to attend to household chores. During that time, her 11-month-old son Agasthya is believed to have accidentally fallen into a bucket filled with water in the washing area and drowned.
Investigators say the mother discovered the child later and was overwhelmed by the tragedy. Preliminary findings suggest that the shock and grief may have led her to take her own life shortly afterward.
The deaths came to light in the evening when her husband, Mahantesh Wali, a software engineer, returned home from work at around 6:30 PM.
Husband’s Discovery
Mahantesh reportedly knocked on the door multiple times but received no response. He then tried calling his wife’s mobile phone, but she did not answer. Concerned, he used a spare key kept near a window to enter the house.
Inside, he found Pratibha dead, hanging from a cradle hook using a saree. Their infant son was also found lifeless on the bed.
Desperate Attempts to Save Child
As part of the ongoing investigation, digital forensic teams examined the mother’s smartphone. The search history revealed a series of frantic queries made shortly before her death, including “how to revive a drowned person” and “emergency CPR for babies.” These findings suggest a desperate, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to save her son after finding him in the water.
In addition to the digital evidence, police recovered an empty strip of Dolo-650 tablets near the scene. Investigators believe Pratibha may have initially attempted to ingest the medication before ultimately taking her own life. These details have been added to the unnatural death report (UDR) as authorities work to reconstruct the exact timeline of the tragedy.
Police Statement
Deputy Commissioner of Police N. Yetish said preliminary evidence suggests the child’s death was accidental and that the mother’s death followed soon after.
Police also recovered a handwritten note in English at the scene. In the note, Pratibha expressed deep grief and stated she felt responsible for the accidental death of her son after he fell into a bucket of water. She also apologized to her husband and wrote that she could not bear the guilt of being unable to save their child.
A case of unnatural death has been registered at Chandra Layout Police Station, and further investigation is underway.
Husband Seeks Detailed Probe
Although the initial police assessment points toward a tragic accident followed by suicide, Mahantesh Wali has expressed suspicion about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. According to police officials, he has sought legal action to ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated.
Authorities have said they will examine all evidence, including forensic findings and statements from family members, before drawing final conclusions. The incident has shocked the local community, highlighting the devastating emotional toll that sudden tragedies can have on families.
