Kolkata: Hours after a 28-year-old youth was killed in a late-night accident on the Kalyani Expressway while returning home from work, his grief-stricken mother died by suicide at Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas on Thursday.
The youth, identified as Sushovan Tikadar, an employee of a multinational company in Kolkata, was riding bike when a truck hit it from behind on Wednesday night. Shattered by the news of her son's death, his mother, Manju, later took her own life by hanging.
According to local sources, Sushovan spoke to his mother on Wednesday evening before leaving work. While returning home late at night on his motorcycle, a truck hit him from behind near Mohanpur PS on Kalyani Expressway. The impact killed him on the spot.
Locals rescued Sushovan and rushed him to Barrackpore BN Bose Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His mother, Manju Tikadar, rushed to the hospital after receiving the news.
Neighbours recalled that Manju Devi appeared unusually calm and detached at the hospital, though no one suspected anything at the time. "After returning home, she locked herself inside her room. Later that night, repeated calls went unanswered. Alarmed residents informed the police on Thursday morning," said Jyotsna Guha, a local woman.
Police from Basudebpur police station broke open the door and found the woman hanging inside the room. A suicide note was also recovered from the spot.
Local sources said that Manju Devi lived alone with her son since her husband's death.
"Sushovan was her only support. Unable to cope with the grief of losing her only child, the elderly woman allegedly took the extreme step," a neighbour said.