Kerala woman who jumped into river with 3-year-old son dies; family dispute suspected

A 30-year-old woman died after jumping into a river with her young son in the early hours of Sunday near Vayalapra in Kerala’s Kannur district. While her body has been recovered, the search for the child continues.

According to media reports, the woman arrived at the Vayalapra bridge on a scooter around 1 am and jumped into the river with her two-and-a-half-year-old son. Local fishermen who witnessed the incident immediately alerted the authorities.

A joint operation involving Fire and Rescue Services and local residents led to the recovery of the woman’s body around 9 am. A scuba diving team carried out the search. However, her son remains missing.

Police suspect that a long-standing family dispute may have prompted the woman to take the drastic step. She had reportedly been separated from her husband for the past three years.

An investigation is ongoing, with officers reviewing CCTV footage from the area and speaking to the woman’s relatives to understand what led to the incident.