Stany Bela
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 5: As readers are well aware, the horrific accident that took place at Karur in Tamil Nadu last month claimed the lives of seven of a family from Kayyar, including a newy-married man, who were returning from a visit to Velankanni pilgrim centre. The heartbreaking news brought a pall of gloom on the entire district.
As had been reported at the time of the tragic incident, 11 persons of the family were returning from Velankanni when a lorry smashed into their car at Karur in the wee hours of May 13. While seven - Allwyn Monteiro, his brothers Herald Monteiro and Sathurine Monteiro, Herald's wife Precilla, Allwyn's sister-in-law Reema and their son Rohit, and Sathurine's daughter Sharon - died on the spot, there were four suvivors - Jhosma, Preema, Shanvi and Roshan. Among them, Jhosma, Preema and Shanvi are currently recuperating in Father Muller Hospital in the city.
Jhosma
Preema
Shanvi
Sadly, having lost breadwinners of the family and thereby financial support, the injured are struggling to meet their medical costs and day-to-day expenses.
When the accident occurred at Karur, locals admitted the injured to Cauvery hospital at Trichy. The hospital expenses at the time of releasing the bodies of the seven deceased and shifting the other injured was over Rs 2 lac. The relatives borrowed money from others to pay the bills.
Ever since they were admitted in Father Muller Hospital, Jhosma, Preema and Shanvi have undergone critical surgeries and are being closely monitored. The treatment so far and for the next three months may cost around Rs 4 lac.
The injured Jhosma Crasta's husband Sathurine and two brothers-in-law (Allwyn and Herald) lost their lives in the accident. Her daughter Shanvi, just a toddler, was also injured. Moreover, the family had recently constructed a new house by taking bank loan of Rs 5 lac, which now has to be paid by Jhosma. Her father-in-law is bedridden.
In short, Jhosma now has the four-fold responsibility of looking after her young daughter, paying hospital bills, repaying loans and also meeting her father-in-law's treatment costs. Being unemployed, financially weak and having no source of income, Jhosma is unable to meet all these expenses.
Preema, who lost her husband Allwyn in the accident only a week after marriage, also belongs to a poor family. She was critically injured in the accident. Now, after surgeries and close monitoring by the doctors, she is slowly recovering. Her parents had borrowed a huge amount of money for her marriage. They too are struggling to repay the loans and meeting their daughter's medical expenses.
As the earning members of the family have lost their lives, there is no one to support the surviving members. The Kerala government had announced that it would bear their hospital expenses, but they have received ony Rs 1.45 lac from the government. Fr Richard Coelho, director of Father Muller Hospital and Fr Rudolf D'Sa, the administrator have already waived Rs 25,000 mortuary bills for keeping the bodies for two days. No one else has come to their help so far.
In all, the family needs Rs 12 lac to meet immediate medical expenses and repay loans. The accident, poverty and the burden of loans have made life miserable for the surviving family members. It will not be easy to get back to normal life, and impossible to fill the void left by their loved ones. The road to recovery is long, and having the additional burden of loans and bills can make it harder.
The distressed family is seeking help from kind-hearted individuals and donors to tide over the tough times.
Daijiworld urges readers to support Jhosma, Preema and Shanvi in their time of difficulty.
Contributions may be sent to:
Jhosma Crasta C H
Kerala Gramin Bank (formerly North Malabar Gramin Bank)
Branch: Permude
A/C No: 40415101014602
IFSC: KLGB0040415
Contact:
Reshma Crasta (sister of Jhosma): +91 9746984481
Alphonse D'Souza, president, Catholic Sabha Kasaragod varado: 9845304601