Udupi: Back from the 'dead' - Man 'cremated' by family turns up alive!

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jul 23: Joy knew no bounds for a family in Bagalkot when their loved one, who they had supposedly cremated, appeared from the 'dead' all of sudden!

Incredible as it may sound, this is how it happened.

On July 14, a city bus crushed a labourer to death beyond recognition. The police somehow established his identity through statements of some people and ascertained that he was from Soolibhavi in Hunagunda taluk, Bagalkot. The family was informed and his mortal remains were handed over.

The left hand of the deceased had a tattoo of 'Parashappa' while on the right hand there was picture of lord Anjaneya. A holy thread was also found on him. Also, the police learnt that a person by name Parashuram from Soolibhave in Bagalkot had come to Udupi. But no Parashuram from Bagalkot was spotted in Udupi, and therefore it was assumed that the dead man was the same Parushuram, and accordingly, his family members were informed.

Parushuram's two elder brothers then came to Udupi, but as his face was beyond recognition, they identified him based on other clues and told the police that he indeed was Parashuram Nagappa Hulyal (34), their brother. They took the body to Bagalkot and conducted the final rites on July 17.

But on July 21, Parashuram appeared before the family, alive and well, bringing both surprise and utter joy.

So where was Parashuram all this while? It is said that he had come to Udupi in search of work 9 months back and worked as labourer in various places. Once in a while he would call home. On July 14, on the day the accident took place, Parashuram was not in Udupi. Hence, despite a search by family and friends, he could not be located in Udupi, and the dead person was assumed to be Parashuram.

Meanwhile, Parashuram had already left Udupi and was working elsewhere, and he had no mobile phone. On July 20, he came back to Udupi, much to the delight and shock of his friends. He told them where he had been, and on learning that his family had thought him dead, he immediately called his mother to inform that he was alive. However, none of his family members believed that it was him, and hence he visited Bagalkot on July 21 to prove it to them.

However, amidst all the joy, the family members were full of anxiety over whom they had actually cremated. The police are once again trying to establish the dead man's identity, and one hopes that this time they get it right!