Recent Tragedy: A family of three died by suicide, jumping from a bridge into the Tapi River near Kamrej, Surat district.
Motive: The father, Vipul, was reportedly in debt (Rs 8 lakh) due to losses in share trading and aimed to prevent creditors from pursuing his family.
Discovery: A passerby noticed an abandoned bike and footwear on the bridge and alerted the police.
Search and Recovery: Police initiated a search, recovering the bodies the following morning. An accidental death complaint was filed.
River’s Significance: The Tapi River (also Tapti) is a major river in central India.
East-to-West Flow: It’s one of the few major Indian rivers flowing west, along with the Narmada and Mahi.
Geographic Reach: It traverses Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
Origin and Course: Rises in the Gawilgarh Hills (Madhya Pradesh), flows west between the Satpura Range, across the Jalgaon plateau (Maharashtra), through Surat (Gujarat), and into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea).
Length and Drainage: Approximately 700 km long, draining 65,145 sq km.
Basin Features: Located in the Deccan plateau, bounded by the Satpura and Ajanta Ranges. Primarily agricultural land.
Relation to Narmada: Flows roughly parallel to the Narmada River, separated by the Satpura Range, forming a natural barrier between northern and peninsular India.
Major Tributaries: Purna, Girna, and Panjhra (flowing from the south in Maharashtra).
Ukai Dam: A significant hydroelectric project on the Tapi River.
Galteshwar Mahadev Temple: The family visited this temple on the banks of Tapi before the incident.
