A mentally unstable individual today caused a scare among commuters and the city police at the Punjagutta flyover when he tried to commit suicide by climbing onto a traffic police pylon and attempted to strangulate himself there.
However, the police officials in the area were successful in rescuing him by climbing on to a passing RTC bus.
They then took him to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
After being rescued, the man claimed that he had never intended to kill himself, and had climbed the pylon only because he was running away from his family.
The man, identified as 38-year-old Raju, is a native of Nyalkal of Zaheerabad mandal in Medak district. He had reportedly been working as a driver in the city for some time.
The police officials present at the scene said that he had developed some mental health problems in the recent past, which had prompted his family to try to admit him to the NIMS.
However, they added, he had escaped from his residence and had reached the busy flyover.
Later, Punjagutta Sub-Inspector D Nagaraju addressed the incident in greater detail, and told the media that Raju had attempted suicide after he ran away from his family.
"He had climbed on to the Punjagutta junction traffic post under the flyover, and was attempting to commit suicide by strangulating his neck with a cloth," Nagaraju said.
He also revealed that Raju was now safely admitted at the Erragadda Mental Hospital for a complete checkup, and the necessary treatment.