Avani completes surgery for spinal injury after wedding day scare, still in ICU

KOCHI: Avani, who suffered a serious spinal injury in a car accident hours before her wedding in Alappuzha, completed her surgery on Saturday. The surgery, conducted under the leadership of Dr Sudheesh Karunakaran, Head of the Neurosurgery Department at VPS Lakeshore Hospital, was successful.

A detailed medical report explaining the nature of the injury will be released later. The surgery began at around 9.45 am today and was completed by noon. Avani is continuing to be monitored in the Surgical ICU. She will be shifted after her condition improves.

Avani left for Kumarakom with her relative Ananthu and paternal aunt Jayanamma at 1.30 am yesterday to get her make-up done. However, tragedy struck after the car they were travelling in lost control and hit a tree near the Pallichira Chulapalam bridge on the Cherthala-Kumarakom road at 3 am. Avani's spine and arm were injured. The three injured were first admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital. Avani was later shifted to Lakeshore.

The wedding was scheduled to take place at the Alappuzha Shakti Auditorium between 12.15 and 12.25 pm yesterday. Avani is the daughter of Jagadish and Jyothi from Muthalassery, Kommadi. The groom, Sharon, son of Manumon and Reshmi from Thumboli Valappil House, is an assistant professor at KVM Engineering College, Cherthala. The bride is a teacher at Bishop Morrow School, Cherthala.

Despite the shocking accident, Sharon married Avani at the hospital. The wedding was held at the scheduled time. Although it was decided to make the hospital the wedding venue, Avani and Sharon's relatives and friends arrived at the auditorium on time. At the appointed time, the "Gurudeva Dasakam" was recited in front of the Gurudeva picture. The bride and groom had attended the reception together the day before the wedding.