Jojo waited for his beloved with hope, found Neethu's lifeless body after five days

MEPPADI: For five days, there was a glimmer of hope that she might be found. Yesterday, after days of waiting, Jojo found his beloved Neethu’s lifeless body in the Chaliyar River. This turned Jojo's heart and body numb, like a wooden doll. Holding his six-year-old son, Pappi, who couldn't even cry, Jojo faced the harsh reality. The landslide spared his parents and his only child, but Neethu could not be saved.

Jojo's house is next to Chooralmala High School. The first landslide struck Chooralmala at 12:30 am on Monday night. As the gushing mountain water flooded nearby houses, neighbours sought shelter in Jojo's house. Around 4 am, a second landslide hit. The sofa and bed in the house started to float away. Jojo quickly sat his father on the sofa. When the muddy water surged again, his mother fell. They clung to the fridge to avoid being washed away, but it too was flooded. Jojo managed to pull his parents inside as water poured through the front door. At this moment, his son fell into the water. Jojo tore a large curtain in the hall, tied it around his son's chest and secured him inside. Carrying his father and mother in both hands, he somehow reached the terrace of the house next door. He then rushed back to save Neethu, but she was swept away by the mountain water.

For four days, Neethu remained missing. Yesterday, while searching through the bodies brought to Nilambur Taluk Hospital and Meppadi Family Health Centre, her body was identified. Neethu, an employee of Meppadi WIMS Hospital, was cremated at Chooralmala Sebastian's Church Cemetery.