PTI

Kochi, Jan 4: A man presumed to be dead by his kin called his family at nearby Kalady from Goa on Thursday morning, hours after the last rites had been performed on a mutilated body believing to be his.

Agony turned to ecstasy at Praveen's home when they received his usual call at 8 am enquiring about their wellbeing, family members said.

At first, the family was shocked to hear his voice as only on Wednesday the relatives had identified a badly-mutilated body, hit by a train at Ambalapuzha in Alapuzha district, to be his.

His relieved wife said she had voiced doubts about the body not being her husband's.

One George, whose mobile number was found in the pocket of the body, was contacted by the police and based on the identification given by them, he said the body could be that of Praveen and gave his residence number at Kalady.

Relatives were told that Praveen was injured and that they should rush to Ambalapuzha.

When they reached there, they identified the body as that of Praveen. The face was badly mutilated.

The grieving relatives brought the body home Wednesday night and the cremation was performed at around midnight.

Only when the telephone bell rang on Thursday morning did the family consisting of his wife and aged mother realize the faux pas.

The relatives are happy that Praveen is alive but are wondering about the body they cremated in their compound.