For a police officer, it seems ironical — when other crimes associated with stress have not yet proliferated on the joy islands, why the high suicide rate? South Andaman district is the most vulnerable, with a suicide rate of 51.09, four times above the national average. Occupation-wise, government servants with 10 times the national average suicide rate, and private salaried employees with five times the national average are the most vulnerable. This stands in contrast with the national average data of the National Crime Records Bureau, wherein family problems are the leading cause, accounting for 32.4% of suicides across India. The suicide problem on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands needs conscious acknowledgement and thoughtful interventions.

Source: The Hindu January 17, 2026 20:34 UTC