Death of woman in Cherthala is not after eating thoran made of leucas plant, reveal police

ALAPPUZHA: The police clarified that the death of 42-year-old J Indu in Cherthala, is not due to the consumption of thoran made of leucas plant. Police said Indu had some other physical ailments and that could be the cause of death. The police response is based on the indications from the preliminary post-mortem report. Cherthala police said further confirmation will be obtained after getting the post-mortem report and results of the chemical test. The police have registered a case of unnatural death in the incident.

Indu and her family, who live near Cherthala Xray Junction, had eaten thoran made of leucas plant, on Thursday night. The family said Indu had physical discomfort soon after eating it. She was first admitted to a private hospital in Cherthala and later in Nettoor, but her life could not be saved. Relatives said that apart from Indu, her father Jayanandan also developed physical discomfort after consuming the thoran. Soon leucas plant turned villain.

A native of Haripad had died after chewing an Arali flower on April 29. Surya Surendran collapsed and died at the Nedumbassery airport. Surya Surendran (24), daughter of Surendran and Anitha died at a private hospital in Parumala. The preliminary conclusion is that she died after chewing arali flower.

Surya was about to fly to UK after getting a nursing job. She had gone to bid goodbye to her neighbors before leaving for UK. While returning, she got a call and stood near an arali plant and spoke. While talking, she plucked the leaves and flowers of the plant and put them in her mouth but she immediately spat that out.

She vomited several times while going to the Nedumbassery Airport, but thought it was from food. Surya, who collapsed during the immigration checking around 8 pm, was admitted to a private hospital in Angamaly and then to a private hospital in Parumala, but died the next morning.

Following the incident, the temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board have decided to avoid the arali flower in the offerings given to the devotees. However, the Devaswom Board also informed that there is no restriction in using Arali flower for pooja.

Leucas plant
Leucas known as thumba chedi is a plant widely found in Kerala. Its leaves and roots are used for making Ayurvedic medicines. The flower of it is vital for making athapoovu. The flower of the plant is used for post-death rituals such as Karkkidaka vavu bali. A porridge is made out of it and given to women after delivery.