Unable to save daughter, Jomini also passes away; Kozhippilly mourns for 15 year Maria and her mother who were swept away

KOTHAMANGALAM: The mother of the 15-year-old who died after being swept away in the Kozhippilly River has died while undergoing treatment. Jomini (39), the wife of Abi, Aryappilli Kozhippilly, died at a private hospital in Ernakulam. Their daughter Maria had died on Saturday.

Jomini was also swept away while trying to save Maria, who was swept away while bathing near the check dam in the river. Her younger daughter Julia witnessed the accident. Jomini, who was admitted to a private hospital in Kothamangalam, was shifted to Ernakulam for specialist treatment.

The body will be handed over to the relatives after a postmortem tomorrow. Maria's body is kept at the Kothamangalam Mar Baselios Hospital morgue. The funeral of both will be held at the Kothamangalam Marthamariam Cathedral cemetery at 3 pm on Monday.

Jomini was an employee at a business establishment in Kozhippilly. Maria was a 10th-grade student at St. Augustine's Higher Secondary School in Kothamangalam.

Family and locals mourn

The death of Jomini and her daughter Maria has brought Kozhippilly to tears. The tragedy in the family was shocking to the entire locality. Although Maria's death was confirmed, there was hope and prayer that at least Jomini would return to life. The news of Jomini's death reached the neighbourhood only this evening. The mother and daughter who had been there for so long became victims of fate's cruelty and will remain a painful memory for the family and locals. Classmates and teachers at St. Augustine's School cannot assimilate the fact that Maria Abi, who attended class every day, will now be absent from class 10D. Headmistress Sister Rini Maria said that the teachers and students will go to Maria's home and pay their last respects.