Niagara Police Say Indian Student Who Died Committed Suicide By Jumping Into The Falls

The Niagara Police say the death of a 21-year-old Indian student who plunged over Niagara Falls on June 1 was intentional. Poonamdeep Kaur, a Jalandhar native, had gone to Canada on a study visa and was staying there for the past one and a half years. According to police, Kaur committed suicide and did not slip and fall into the water as has been reported by media in India.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

NIAGARA FALLS – The Niagara Police say the death of a 21-year-old Indian student who plunged over Niagara Falls on June 1 was intentional. 

Poonamdeep Kaur, a Jalandhar native, had gone to Canada on a study visa and was staying there for the past one and a half years. According to police, Kaur committed suicide and did not slip and fall into the water as has been reported by media in India.

The Tribune newspaper reported it as an accident and released her name and photo on June 1, but the Niagara Police did not confirm the student’s identity.

 “It is the practice of the NRPS to not disclose or publicly provide information on a suicide incident,” the NRPS police spokesperson said.

Due to public misinformation circulating around this incident, the NRPS is taking the unprecedented step of confirming this was an intentional act. Detectives have recovered evidence to confirm this. Foul play is not suspected.”

The police added, “We would ask the public and media to respect the privacy of the family and missing person. No further information will be provided regarding this matter out of respect for the next of kin.”

In their release, the police said she had “intentionally entered the upper Niagara River above the brink of Niagara Falls. That person was not located. They are considered missing.”

Reports in Indian media had said Kaur died in a tragic accident when her foot slipped while she was on a tour to visit the famed Niagara Falls with her friends.

However, sources have said the student was suffering from depression and stress brought on by pressures of studying in Canada, which has led to the deaths of numerous Indian students.

The Indian student’s death has steeped her village in shock. Her friends, who were visiting with her, reportedly informed her family about the incident.