Suffered serious head injury after tripping over cable lying near cemetery gate; woman dies while undergoing treatment

KOCHI: A 68-year-old woman who suffered serious injuries after tripping over a cable lying on the ground died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The deceased has been identified as Pushpi Xavier, a native of Kalamassery. She died on Friday.

Her family alleged that they had spent Rs 18 lakh on her treatment but received no financial assistance from the cable owners. The accident occurred around 11 am on September 8. Pushpi was returning after visiting the cemetery near St Pius X Church at North Kalamassery. Her husband, Xavier, was accompanying her.

As she approached the cemetery gate, her foot got caught in a cable lying on the way, causing her to fall and hit her head on the ground. She suffered serious injuries and lost a considerable amount of blood. She was immediately taken to a private hospital in Ernakulam. However, as a doctor capable of providing specialised treatment was unavailable, she had to be shifted to another hospital. The accident also left the left side of her body paralysed.

Following the incident, the cable owners removed the wires from the accident spot. However, the family alleged that neither the cable owners nor the contractors contacted them to enquire about her condition or offer financial assistance, despite being aware of the accident. Kalamassery police have registered a case in connection with the incident. Pushpi is survived by her children, Arun and Susmi.