Indian Family of Three Dies After Falling from 36th Floor Apartment in London Skyscraper — Here’s What Happened | Today’s news
An Indian family of three is making headlines after all their members tragically died following a fatal fall from the 36th floor of a luxury high-rise in London.
A family of a middle-aged couple and their terminally ill son died after falling nearly 400ft from the Highpoint block of flats in Elephant and Castle on the morning of May 27. The deceased have been identified as Aditi Paralkar (46), Rakesh Pai (47) and their nine-year-old son Sid. Their bodies were found in the courtyard of the residential complex.
According to a Daily Mail report, investigators are treating the incident as a suspected murder-suicide. The couple, both consultants by profession, returned to the UK last year after treatment in India failed to improve their son’s condition. While Rakesh specialized in finance, Aditi held several senior positions in the construction industry.
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“It was a huge stress for both of them, but Adi in particular was struggling to cope with what was happening. She had no family in the UK and was also doing a very demanding job so it was very difficult for her to manage everything,” the publication quoted a friend of the couple as saying.
The friend added: “It took a huge toll on her mental health and I think it was maybe too much for her.”
According to another source quoted by the Daily Mail, Aditi was apparently struggling with their son’s illness, while Rakesh seemed to be handling the pressure more calmly. Neighbors also reportedly heard screaming and shouting coming from the apartment in the two weeks before the tragedy.
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A resident of the building told the publication, “I’ve been hearing screaming and yelling for the last two weeks. It’s stopped since then.”
The couple moved to the UK in the early 2000s after earning degrees from prestigious Indian universities. They reportedly ran their own consultancy and lived in a luxury apartment complex where rent for a two-bedroom flat can reach £3,800 a month.
The project offers high-end Siemens appliances, spacious living, dining and kitchen areas, Danish designer furniture and yellow-colored private balconies with glass barriers. The 458-apartment complex is home to a mix of affluent international students and young professionals.
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Described as loyal and hardworking, Aditi has worked on several major construction projects, including cladding installations at Heathrow Airport. Meanwhile, Rakesh has worked as a project manager for leading financial institutions, including Barclays, Santander and Deutsche Bank.
Friends and acquaintances described Rakesh as a “people person” who was actively involved in community work. He volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Society, supporting people affected by dementia, and also worked with the Thomas Pocklington Trust, a charity that helps blind and partially sighted people.
Six years ago, the family moved to India, renting their £500,000 flat in a middle-class residential street in Clapham, south-west London. After returning to the UK, they bought the flat above it.
According to the report, their stay at Highpoint Tower was temporary as they planned to combine two Clapham flats into one family home.
