NAWABSHAH: Was it destined to happen in this way or did human agency have a hand in the mysterious death of a couple, who jumped into Mithrao Canal near Tando Adam late on Monday night between 12:00am and 1:00am after exchange of seemingly good-natured banter between husband and wife.

According to what Ruqayya, six-year-old daughter, of the couple Fida Hussain Shah, 32, and Mehrunnisa, 25; their niece, 8, and cousin Razi Shah, 22, told relatives and police who reached the scene after the tragedy, the man and wife were returning home in Tando Mitha Khan in their car after a healing session with a soothsayer in Tando Adam, when they stopped on the canal bridge to throw a talisman into the water as directed by the healer.

Mor Shah, cousin of late Fida Shah, told reporters that Mehrunnisa was going through some mental problems, hence the couple went to see a healer in Tando Adam.

Probably not satisfied with him, they decided on their way back home to meet another spiritual healer who handed them the talisman and directed them to throw it into a canal or river, he said.

The couple’s cousin Razi Shah, who was sitting in the car’s back with the children, informed the family that Fida stopped the car on the canal’s bridge and the couple got out to carry out the healer’s direction.

When they were walking back to the car, Fida said to his wife in a lighter vein how unlucky they were that in such a blessed night they were roaming about for her treatment rather than praying to God. It would have been better if she had died, Fida said as they sat back in their seats, Mor said quoting Razi.

He said that probably the casually uttered but insensitive remark cut her to the quick and she replied that she would jump and die then and there.

Without warning, she jerked open the door before he could stop her, rushed out and jumped over the railing into the canal, he said.

He said that Fida did not commit suicide he jumped after his wife to save her but could not rescue her and drowned.

Sanghar SHO Ali Akbar Khokhar reached the scene along with his team and called divers, who managed to take out the body of Fida Shah whereas his wife’s body was recovered near Kandiari. The bodies were shifted to hospital for autopsy.

Police officials said that further investigation was under way.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2024