House attached by bank after loan default, couple sleeps on verandah

Paravur: Unable to repay their loans, a couple in Moothakunnam has been forced to live on the verandah of their home, which was recently attached by the bank. Sixty-year-old Puthenpurakkal Reji and his 54-year-old wife Saira, residents of Chettikkad near here, have been spending their nights on the open verandah for the past 24 days.

The family has endured sleepless nights, fearing reptiles and braving the heavy winds and rain that have battered the region. The couple had taken a loan of ₹10 lakh from the Paravur branch of Union Bank of India in 2017. Due to defaulted payments and accumulating compound interest, the total repayment amount swelled to ₹20 lakh, prompting the bank to take further action.

Despite multiple offers from the bank for a one-time settlement, the couple’s weak financial condition prevented them from clearing the dues. On July 23, bank officials attached and sealed the property, evicting the couple.

Reji, a fisherman suffering from a heart condition, has been unable to work since a road accident. Saira works as a helper at a local anganwadi, earning a meagre income. Their two daughters are married and settled elsewhere, leaving the couple alone.

Adding to their troubles, the couple is also facing legal action from a local cooperative bank over another loan taken years ago to purchase land. Despite their hardships, Reji and Saira remain hopeful that kind-hearted individuals will extend financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives.