1.35 lakh people committed suicide in 2011: Crime Bureau Data

West Bengal tops states for the highest number of suicides reported in 2011. More than 1.35 lakh people committed suicide in the country last year.

West Bengal reported the highest number of suicides (16,492) accounting for 12.2 per cent of the total suicides in 2011 followed by Tamil Nadu (15,963), Maharashtra (15,947), Andhra Pradesh (15,077) and Karnataka (12,622).

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, these five states together accounted for 56.2 per cent of the total suicides reported in India.

The remaining 43.8% suicides were reported in the rest of 23 states and seven Union Territories.

The number of suicides in the country over the decade (2001-2011) has recorded an increase of 25 per cent, from 1,08,506 in 2001 to 1,35,585 in 2011.

Family Problems and illness, accounting for 24.3 per cent and 19.6 per cent respectively, were the major causes of suicides while poverty was to be blamed in 1.7 per cent of the cases.

The government data, first reported by the Press Trust of India, showed love affairs (3.4 per cent), drug abuse/addiction (2.7 per cent), dowry dispute (2.4 per cent) and bankruptcy (2.2 per cent) as other causes for suicides.

Delhi has reported the highest number of suicides (1,716) among UTs, followed by Puducherry (557).

Uttar Pradesh, country's most populous state (16.5 per cent share of the population) has reported comparatively lower percentage of suicidal deaths

Fifty-three mega cities reportedly accounted for 13.5 per cent of the total suicides in the country.