Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, May 19: A 32-year-old differently abled woman, who spent four days without food next to the decomposing body of her mother, succumbed in the hospital on Saturday.

The incident came to light late Thursday night at Dasanahadi of Moodugopadi. Jayanti Shetty (62), a resident of Dasanahadi Moodugopadi under the Gopadi gram panchayat limits, was found dead in her home. Her daughter, Pragati Shetty, who had been without food and water for four days, died in the hospital on Saturday.

The family originally hailed from Hengalli and had been living in Moodugopadi for 15 years. After the death of her husband, Jayanti and her daughter Pragati, who was mentally challenged and recently had one leg amputated due to diabetes, lived together. Jayanti Shetty, who suffered from diabetes, looked after Pragati with great difficulty.

On May 12, Jayanti visited the Kumbashi Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple to offer special prayers for Pragati's health. She had also arranged with a local auto rickshaw driver to take her to the Koteshwara Kotilingeshwara temple on May 13. When the driver called Jayanti on May 13, she did not answer, so he assumed she was unavailable and continued with his day.

For three days, neighbors noticed that Jayanti’s house remained closed with the lights on even during the day. They assumed that the mother and daughter had gone somewhere. However, on late Thursday night, a strong stench began emanating from the house. When neighbors called Jayanti's mobile, it rang but was not answered.

Concerned, the locals informed Gopadi gram panchayat president Suresh Shetty. Suresh Shetty and the locals peered through a window and were shocked to see Pragati unconscious on the ground. They alerted SI Vinay M Korlahalli, who arrived with personnel, broke down the door, and administered first aid to the weak and dehydrated woman. Pragati was then taken to a private hospital in Koteshwara, where she passed away on Saturday.

Gopadi gram panchayat president Suresh Shetty contacted Jayanti Shetty’s relatives, who were asked to come to the scene. Jayanti’s body was taken to the hospital, and her final rites were held on Friday. Pragati was cremated on Saturday.