KOTTAYAM: “Open your eyes mole (daughter)... just open your eyes.” The wailing of a mother left everyone gathered at Nampichirakalayil house, in Pattalamukku, near Kottayam’s Muttuchira, heartbroken. Vasanthakumari, the mother of Dr Vandana Das, who was killed while performing her duty as a house surgeon at Kottarakkara taluk hospital, was inconsolable as she bid her daughter goodbye with a farewell kiss.
Vasanthakumari fainted near the pyre of her only daughter, and was accorded medical assistance. Vandana’s father, K G Mohandas, showered his daughter’s face with kisses as her mortal remains were placed on the pyre. The house witnessed heart-wrenching scenes when the last rites were performed in the presence of a huge crowd on Thursday.
Amid mourning relatives, friends and others, Nived, Vandana’s cousin, set fire to the pyre, which was set up in the backyard of the house, around 2.40 pm. A pall of gloom descended when the body was brought home at 8 pm on Wednesday. Thousands of people poured onto the premises across Wednesday night and Thursday morning to pay tributes. Health Minister Veena George, who arrived early on Thursday, broke down. Minister for Cooperatives and Registration V N Vasavan stood by Vandana’s parents from Wednesday night through to the final rites.
Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan, Speaker A N Shamseer, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, MPs Joe K Mani, Thomas Chazhikadan, P K Sreemathy, Anto Antony, MLAs Mons Joseph, C K Asha, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Vandana’s teachers, school and college classmates, and several others came to pay their last respects.
The large gathering disrupted traffic on the Kottayam-Ernakulam road, which passes in front of Nampichirakalayil house. Traffic diversions were enforced on the stretch from Thursday morning.