A 38 year old woman doctor from Hyderabad died by suicide after her United States visa application was rejected, according to police officials investigating the case. The doctor, identified as Dr Rohini, was found dead inside her flat at Padmarao Nagar, Hyderabad. Her family discovered the incident two days after the apartment door was forced open when she did not respond to repeated calls. Police said the initial investigation indicates that she experienced intense emotional distress following the visa denial, which had been central to her professional goals.
Police reported that a handwritten note was found at the scene in which Rohini mentioned the rejection of her US visa and referenced emotional difficulties related to both her career plans and a recently failed marriage proposal. Officers stated that she was living alone at the time of the incident, and there were no signs of external involvement. They added that her family had been aware that she was anxious about the visa outcome.
According to her relatives, Rohini completed her MBBS degree in Kyrgyzstan before returning to India.
She had been living in Hyderabad for around eight years and was working toward securing opportunities abroad. She had been preparing for examinations and visa processes required for medical training and employment in the United States.
Family members said she hoped to relocate in the coming months in order to expand her career options and secure long term financial stability.
Officials explained that her domestic help and a few delivery agents visited her apartment on Friday morning but received no response. When she continued to remain unreachable the following day, the people around informed the building watchman who contacted the family.
After several attempts to reach her, the door was broken open and the doctor was found unresponsive on her cot. She was declared dead at the site and her body was moved for post mortem examination. After the examination was completed, her remains were handed over to her family for funeral arrangements.
A case under Section 194 of the Criminal Procedure Code relating to suspicious death has been registered and the investigation is continuing.
Research in migration health has found that individuals dealing with visa insecurity experience higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. The study noted that uncertainty around immigration outcomes can increase psychological strain due to feelings of instability and loss of control.
Reference:
1. Nickerson, Angela, Yulisha Byrow, Meaghan O’Donnell, Vicki Mau, Tadgh McMahon, Rosanna Pajak, Susan Li, Amber Hamilton, Savannah Minihan, Candy Liu, Richard A. Bryant, David Berle, and Belinda J. Liddell. “The Association Between Visa Insecurity and Mental Health, Disability and Social Engagement in Refugees Living in Australia.” European Journal of Psychotraumatology 10, no. 1 (2019): 1688129. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6968544/
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
