Kuruppanthara: A morbid incident has been reported from a family facing mental illnesses — a woman and her two adult children were found sleeping near the body of a 50-year-old family member at their house in Manjoor Panchayath in Kottayam district.
The dead man, Aji, was the son of the 80-year-old woman named Chellamma, wife of late Purushan. It is suspected he died was at least three days earlier. It has been confirmed he had contracted COVID-19.
Chellamma and her other two children Mini, 52, and Raju, 40, were in the house when the body was found. They were found sleeping under the bed on which Aji's body was lying. The trio were likely unaware of Aji's death.
The incident came to light when the Manjoor Panchayath Member Salimol Joseph visited the house on Tuesday afternoon and spotted the body of Aji. She had arrived with the documents connected with the financial assistance being provided by the panchayath to the poor family. Earlier, the local panchayat office had sanctioned aid for the maintenance of Chellama’s house.
Salimol became suspicious following a bad smell emanating from the house. On entering the room, she found Aji’s body lying on the bed.
Salimol said Chellamma told her that Aji was unwell and he was taking only water.
The panchayat member then informed others about the incident and soon panchayat officials and police reached the house and shifted Aji’s body to the government hospital at Vaikom.
Chellamma and her children has psychiatric problems, Salimol said.
A neighbour said because of Aji’s violent nature nobody used to visit their house. The family used to manage with the pension of the four members and financial assistance given by the local residents.
A house was constructed with panchayat funds under the Ashraya scheme.
Chellamma had the habit of sleeping near Aji at night as he was afraid of sleeping alone. She had been sleeping beside her son since Sunday, unaware of his death.
The medical examination conducted on Aji’s body revealed that he had COVID-19.
The body was later cremated by the government authorities.
