Festive Fervour Turns Funeral For Devout; Citizens Blame Telangana Apathy
Stagnant water, dangling wires, potholed roads, uncontrolled gatherings seen as reasons
Hyderabad:Vikas Sharma, a student from Patna, who died of electrocution on Tuesday, is survived by his parents and sister. His sister, seated under a tree at the oshamia Hospital mortuary, leaned on a friend’s shoulder, her face flushed red as she struggled to hold back tears.
His mother, relatives said, had not taken even a sip of water since hearing the news of his death.
“He loved his family and could do anything for them. He was studying while also working to support them. At such a young age, he even helped pay for his father’s medical treatment. Without him, they feel helpless,” said his friend, Prakash Tiwari.
Vikas’ father had left for Patna just a couple of days earlier. His friends are now arranging to send Vikas’ body back to Patna for the last rites.
Others at the mortuary criticised officials for their apathy in maintaining roads and electrical wiring, especially with Ganesh Chaturthi approaching.
Vikas’ uncle, Suman Kumar, told Deccan Chronicle: “Just days ago, a vehicle carrying an idol overturned because the road was filled with potholes and dug up without warning signs. It is the job of the power department officials to ensure that wires do not hang unguarded, especially during festivals. All they do is visit the spot after an accident, check if it was their fault, and leave. But the grief of families who have lost their loved ones remains unhealed.”
At the Kacheguda hospital, Ram Charan’s grandmother, Laxmi, cried inconsolably outside the ICU after doctors declared his chances of survival bleak.
“He was the sole breadwinner of the family. My son-in-law passed away when the children were young. I always believed my daughter (the deceased’s mother) would be taken care of by her son. His presence somehow kept me away from worry,” she said. Ram Charan had discontinued his studies at around 16 to support his family and was working as a decorator.
“He has been responsible since childhood. We never felt alone in his presence,” said his mother, Lalitha, holding back tears. “We do not want to return home without him.”
A relative who did not wish to be named added: “The hospital troubled us. The first one in Amberpet demanded an exorbitant fee for treatment. When we said we could not afford it, they refused to treat him and referred us to this hospital. Here too, they initially demanded Rs 2 lakh, but only admitted him after a constable intervened.”
