Onam celebrations turn tragic in Kerala Assembly as employee collapses, dies
The incident occurred around 3.20 pm during the cultural programmes staged by assembly staff.
The incident occurred around 3.20 pm during the cultural programmes staged by assembly staff.
The incident occurred around 3.20 pm during the cultural programmes staged by assembly staff.
Thiruvananthapuram: Tragedy struck the Kerala Legislative Assembly during the Onam celebrations on Monday when its deputy librarian collapsed and died on stage while performing a dance. The deceased is V Junais (46), of Vazhayil House, Karthika Housing Colony, Batheri in Wayanad.
The incident occurred around 3.20 pm during the cultural programmes presented by assembly staff. Junais was part of an 11-member dance group. As the performance heightened, he suddenly clutched his forehead and collapsed. Though he was rushed to the General Hospital here, doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival. His colleagues said Junais had passed away within five minutes of reaching the hospital.
A sports enthusiast, Junais regularly visited the Chandrashekharan Nair stadium for jogging and morning exercise. A relative mentioned that he had sought treatment for chest pain about a month ago.
Junais joined the Legislative Assembly in 2011 as a Catalogue Assistant. Before that, he worked as a librarian at IHRD and had also served as Personal Assistant to MLA P V Anwar. He was staying at the Harihar Nagar quarters in Nandankodu.
Junais is survived by his wife, K P Raseena (temporary teacher at IHRD School) and two children, Najad Abdulla and Nihad Abdulla, both students. He was the son of the late V Abdulla and V Aisha.
Junais’s team clinches tug-of-war title
Earlier in the day, Junais and his team had celebrated notable achievements during the Onam festivities. Their team secured third place in the Athapookkalam (floral arrangement) competition and won first prize in the tug-of-war event that followed.
The Onam celebrations at the assembly were inaugurated by Speaker A N Shamseer. After sharing the Onam feast with assembly employees, the speaker had left by noon and the cultural programmes had begun. Following Junais’s sudden death, the events were immediately halted.