A Shocking Story from Hyderabad: When Family Fails
In Hyderabad, a tale of neglect has surfaced, showcasing the darker side of familial duty – or lack thereof. This isn’t your average tale of “family values,” folks. No, this is a reminder that not all heroes wear capes; some are just tragically absent.
Meet K. Ramana and Shantha Kumari, a visually-challenged senior couple who were left in the lurch by two sons who never quite figured out that sometimes family is more than just a biological connection. Their son, Pramod Kumar, was found dead, and shockingly, the couple hadn’t even noticed – they were starving, waiting for him to come home with some food, like hungry dogs playing a rather morbid game of fetch with life.
Now, one might wonder why on earth neighbors didn’t raise an alarm sooner, but thankfully, the stench wafting from their abode was enough to attract attention. I mean, you know things have reached rock bottom when the smell of neglect finally gets someone off their couch – perhaps they thought it was just another late-night curry gone wrong.
The details are grim. Pramod, bless his heart, had a bit of a relationship with alcohol – not exactly a modern-day Mother Teresa, was he? His abuse of alcohol meant that he often treated his parents more like furniture than family members, neglecting them with the finesse of a high-stakes poker player denying his losses. And then, just in case anyone thought this was merely a sad tale, Pramod succumbed to a bout of epileptic fits, leaving Ramana and Shantha in a lurch that would stump even the most seasoned soap opera writer.
The couple eloquently shared their brushes with abandonment, revealing that they sold their possessions, property – basically their entire life savings – to ensure their sons had a future. Their shock at finding Pramod gone gives way to shame—shame not just for being blind but for being discarded. Shantha lamented how they waited for a son who only saw them as a burden. It’s almost as if they were sitting at a dinner table waiting for service, only to find out the restaurant had closed ages ago.
When the police arrived, notably, no family member came rushing forth to claim their own flesh and blood – it was as if they had won the lottery with the unfortunate reality that this wasn’t that kind of jackpot. Inspector A. Surya Naik stepped in heroically, rescuing the couple from a life of deprivation. Side note: how does one prioritize bathing over family commitment? Yet, here we are.
The doctors reported that both were anaemic and faced a host of health issues courtesy of malnutrition. It almost sounds like a bad reality TV show—who wouldn’t want to tune in to “Survivor: Family Edition”? All the dramatic clichés without the sentimental themes we’d usually see.
But here’s the kicker: when approached, the other son—let’s call him “Pradeep the Unwilling”—refused to care for his parents, conveniently forgetting the basic tenets of human compassion. It’s astounding how quickly family ties can unravel like a cheap sweater you bought on impulse. And talk about a community failing; not one neighbor deemed it necessary to bring them a glass of water. Not even a side of dignity to wash down the cruelty of abandonment!
As we digest this heart-wrenching saga, it’s hard not to draw attention to the irony of life’s absurdity. Here are two individuals who sacrificed everything for their children only to be left starving, abandoned in their time of need. So, let’s raise a glass, preferably filled with water, and remember: while family isn’t always a choice, kindness surely is.
And just like that, we’re reminded that sometimes, being a decent human being takes more work than we’d like to admit. If only everyone could hit the rewind button on this story!
Hyderabad: In a poignant turn of events, Nagole police have intervened to relocate a visually-impaired elderly couple to a shelter home after the tragic discovery of their youngest son’s death, who had previously been their primary caregiver. Their other son has declined to take responsibility for them.
The elderly couple, identified as K. Ramana, a retired government employee, and his wife Shantha Kumari, were unaware of their son Pramod Kumar’s passing four days earlier, erroneously anticipating that he would provide them with food, as he usually did. Neighbors were alarmed by the foul odor emanating from their residence and promptly alerted law enforcement. Upon arrival, the police uncovered that Pramod Kumar had succumbed to a series of epileptic seizures on October 24.
Authorities revealed that Pramod, who struggled with alcoholism, frequently neglected his elderly parents, refusing them sustenance and demeaning them as an unnecessary burden. His wife had separated from him due to his abusive behavior tied to his drinking problem.
In an emotional account of their struggles, Ramana and Shantha Kumari expressed their sorrow, revealing that they have been blind since birth and married for 35 years. They moved to Hyderabad from Andhra Pradesh after selling their farmland to ensure the education of their two sons, Pradeep Kumar and Pramod Kumar. Currently, Pradeep Kumar lives separately with his own family.
“I am shocked to hear about my son’s death but ashamed to say that our both kids abandoned us because we are blind. Though we sold our property, gold, and other belongings for them, they did not care. We used to wait for our son Pramod on empty stomachs. My son would be in an inebriated condition and used to misbehave with us saying we were an unnecessary burden on him,” lamented a distraught Shantha Kumari.
Upon discovering the couple, police found them in a dire state—starving and inadequately clothed. Inspector A. Surya Naik of Nagole stated that following their transfer to the shelter home, no family members came to visit them.
Naik noticed the couple’s semi-comatose condition and took immediate action by purchasing food and water for them, ensuring they received a bath before their relocation to a government-run shelter.
Medical professionals reported that the couple is grappling with multiple health issues, including anemia, infection in their lungs due to severe malnutrition, along with hypertension and diabetes. “They are physiologically disturbed, and we have provided them with the necessary medications,” said Dr. M. Jairaj.
Despite police efforts to intervene, Pradeep Kumar and his wife have declined any offer to care for their parents or even visit them at the shelter. “It’s alarming that no one from the neighborhood extended a helping hand or even offered them a glass of water,” noted a concerned woman constable.
I DC
Hyderabad, Oct. 29