A prompt alert from Instagram owner Meta helped Uttar Pradesh Police save the life of a 21-year-old woman in Ghazipur within 19 minutes of her posting a live video of an attempted suicide. The woman was under tremendous mental stress owing to breakup with her boyfriend, police said.
The incident occurred on the night of August 10 in Ghazipur. Around 11:34 pm, the woman streamed herself mixing medicines in water and gulping them down, captioning the clip, “I am forced to consume poison”. Meta’s safety system flagged the post as a suicide risk and immediately emailed an alert to the Social Media Center at the UP Police Headquarters in Lucknow.
Prompted by the alert, Senior police officer Rajiv Krishna ordered swift action. Using the mobile number provided in the alert, the Social Media Center traced the location and informed Ghazipur police. The local police, accompanied by a woman constable, reached the woman’s home in just 19 minutes.
Upon breaking into her room which was locked from inside, the police found the woman unconscious on her bed and rushed her to hospital. Doctors administered emergency treatment and were able to revive her.
During questioning the woman, police learned that she had been working in Delhi’s water supply sector, where she met and fell in love with a man from Prayagraj. The two had planned to marry, but after she lost her job and returned home, the man gradually cut off contact with her. The breakup left her emotionally distressed, leading to the suicide attempt.
Police counselled her and secured an assurance that she would not repeat such an act. Her family expressed gratitude for the quick response and support provided by the police team.
Since 2022, an arrangement between Meta and the UP Police has been in place to monitor Facebook and Instagram for suicide-related posts. Alerts from Meta allow police to trace individuals and intervene before it is too late.
According to police data, between January 1, 2023, and August 10, 2025, this system has helped save 1,241 lives across Uttar Pradesh.
Officials said the Ghazipur case highlights the life-saving potential of technology when combined with swift on-ground action, and urged people to seek help in times of distress rather than resort to self-harm.
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