'Closed WhatsApp and slept peacefully', Vishu bumper winner Vishwambaran reveals

ALAPPUZHA: As soon as Vishwambaran saw his ticket number pop up in a WhatsApp message, a feeling rose within him saying his life was about to change. His intrigue suggested that he look into the message, but Vishwambaran held to his nonchalance and decided to sleep the night peacefully without even opening the message.

The very next morning, 76-year-old Alappuzha Pazhaveedu Plamparambil veetil Vishwambaran, strutted to his sister Sumathikutty’s house, where he had entrusted her to safe keep the lottery ticket. Vishwambaran later took the company of Sumathikutty’s daughter-in-law Indu and reached the Trikarthika Lottery Agency in Kaithavana, Alappuzha. Just minutes after the arrival, news headlines in Kerala gleamed announcing the winner of Vishu bumper price.

“Until yesterday I was sleeping well, I don't know how to do it now,'' Vishwambaran responded to the media after winning the Vishu Bumper's first prize is Rs 12 crore.

Vishwambaran, a former CRPF official took voluntary retirement after 20 years of service. At the time of retirement, Vishwambaran was a Lance Naik. He later worked as a security in a finance institution in Ernakulam, but quit his job during the pandemic.

Vishwambaran, who has made it a practice to take lottery tickets have hitherto won prices up to Rs 5000. During this Vishu, he took two tickets in total and one from sub-agent Jayalakshmi of Pazhaveedu. He later handed over the ticket to his sister. He took another ticket from a shop near the Pazhaveedu Devi temple which he kept with himself. Vishwambaran credits all luck to the blessings of ‘Pazhaveedu Amma’. The Bumper ticket and Stree Shakti ticket were handed over to the Federal Bank Mullakkal branch on Thursday.

Viswambaran’s wife is Prasanakumari. His daughter Veena is a techie while another daughter Vidya is a school teacher. The septuagenarian is yet to decide on how to spend the humongous money assiduously.