In a suspected case of suicide, a taxi driver reportedly jumped into Kasheli Creek on Monday morning, prompting a large-scale search operation that had to be called off by evening due to high tides and strong currents. Authorities have launched efforts to locate the missing man, with search operations scheduled to resume today.

According to the Thane Disaster Management Cell (TDMC), the taxi driver, a resident of Maitri Park, Kasheli, parked his Wagon R along the Kasheli Creek bridge, left his mobile phone in the vehicle, and jumped into the creek. Yasin Tadvi, head of the TDMC, said that the initial alert about the incident came from a journalist who reported the driver’s disappearance. “Our disaster control immediately dispatched teams from Narpoli Police Station, the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), Thane Fire Brigade, Bhiwandi Fire Brigade, and the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) to the location,” Tadvi said.

The search and rescue team combed the creek for over four hours but was forced to halt operations due to high tide and strong currents, which made the area extremely hazardous for rescue personnel. Boats were withdrawn, and operations were suspended until conditions improve, officials said.

Senior police inspector Vijay Kabdane stated that preliminary investigations suggest the taxi driver may have taken the extreme step due to financial difficulties. “We believe monetary stress could have led him to this point. The family will provide further clarity once we meet them today,” Kabdane added.

Authorities have urged local residents and commuters in the area to remain cautious and avoid venturing near the creek until the search operation is completed. The incident has highlighted the pressures faced by daily wage earners and small-scale professionals in the city, with financial stress emerging as a suspected factor in this tragic case.

The Thane police have registered the incident as a suspected suicide, and teams are coordinating with disaster management and local authorities to ensure that the creek is thoroughly searched once tide levels are safe. Meanwhile, family members and locals are anxiously awaiting updates about the taxi driver’s whereabouts.