The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has restored suicide prevention signboards on some of the bridges over the Sabarmati river that had disappeared shortly after being installed in 2023.The signboards, bearing positive messages and a toll free number of the Jeevan Aastha Helpline (1800-233-3330), are an important part of the civic body’s effort to reduce deaths by suicide in the river. These also aim to encourage people in need to go for mental health counselling.A Hard Look report published in The Indian Express on December 23, 2024, had highlighted how a man walked halfway up the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar bridge, climbed the parapet and barriers (fence) and died by suicide in the river in front of several onlookers. The River Rescue Team of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) made futile attempts to save this man.The two-member River Rescue Team has, however, pulled out an average of 200 people per year from the river over 10 years, between 2014 and 2023. A total of 2,206 people fell or jumped into the Sabarmati, of which 1,755 (75%) lost their lives.Original Installation and disapperanceIn November 2023, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner M Thennarasan had personally ordered the installation of these signboards on seven of the nine bridges over the Sabarmati — Subhash Bridge, Dadhichi Bridge, Gandhi Bridge, Ellisbridge, Nehru Bridge, Sardar Bridge and Ambedkar Bridge. There were two on each bridge, one on the west and the other on the east end, totalling 14 boards.A year later, in December 2024, The Indian Express had conducted a check on all seven bridges, only to find that just four out of the 14 were still in place. The signboards were intact only on both sides of the Ellisbridge (Vivekanand), on the west end of Subhash bridge, and on the east end of Sardar bridge.While Indira bridge and Atal footbridge have never had such boards, ones on the Dadhichi bridge, Gandhi bridge, Nehru bridge and Ambedkar bridge had completely disappeared.Story continues below this adPartial restorationOn February 18, 2025, these suicide prevention signboards were partially restored, according to Deputy Health Officer Dr Sanket Patel. Currently only six bridges — Ellisbridge (Vivekanand), Subhash bridge, Sardar bridge, Dadhichi bridge, Nehru bridge and Ambedkar bridge — over the Sabarmati have these suicide prevention signboards.Meanwhile, there are no such boards on the Riverfront, leading to many incidents of suicide attempts, say rescuers.As reported earlier, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) has not taken any action to prevent deaths by suicides except putting up small signages that read: “Don’t take a hurried step in anger.” Also, these signages do not bear any helpline number details of assistance.Although a former official had assured action, nothing was done after three senior SRFDCL officers — Chairman, Managing Director and Executive Director — were transferred in January and February this year.Story continues below this adBetween the installation of the signboards and their disappearance, the Jeevan Aastha Helpline received 1,682 calls between November 2023 and October 2024 compared to the year-ago period. This was a 34% rise in the number of people who called to seek help.On the other hand, at 185, incidents of suicide attempt or accidental fall between November 2023 and October 2024 saw a drop of 26 — down from 211 between November 2022 and October 2023, showed data from the AFES.