In a shocking act of violence, a 27-year-old woman in Farhor district of Khatlon province reportedly threw her four young children into the Surkhob River before attempting to take her own life.

According to the Emergencies Committee’s Office in Kulob, the incident occurred during the early hours of June 30, between midnight and 1:00 a.m. 

Authorities identified the woman as Madina Halimova, a resident of Safarov village in the Khutan jamoat, Farkhor district.  

According to initial reports, the woman acted out of revenge after discovering that her husband had taken a second wife.  Investigators say she threw her three daughters and infant son—aged between a few months and five years—into the river one by one, before jumping in herself.

Woman survives, children drown

“She first threw two of the children into the water, then the other two, and finally jumped in herself,” officials told Asia-Plus.

Halimova managed to survive the incident and reached the riverbank, but all four children drowned.

As of July 2, the bodies of two of the children have been recovered, while search efforts for the remaining two continue.  The Emergencies Committee is leading the recovery operation.

Criminal charges filed

Halimova has been taken into custody, and a criminal case has been opened under Article 104 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, which pertains to murder.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed the incident but has not released additional details at this time.

This tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and grief across the region, raising questions about mental health, domestic conflict, and the availability of support systems for women in crisis.