Family lived in a one-room house, sent message to WhatsApp group mentioning suicide; crucial information on death surface

KATTAPANA: Some critical information has surfaced on the incident where a couple died in a house fire at Puttady in Vandanmedu. Raveendran (50), who was running a shop ‘Jyothi Stores’ at Anakkara Alphonsa Building and his wife Usha (45) were the two killed in the fire. Their daughter Sreedhanya who sustained serious burns has been admitted at Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

Initial reports said it was a suicide due to financial issues. The tragic incident happened Monday early morning at 1 am. Their one-room house was near the Holy Cross College. It is not clear how the house caught fire.

The locals came to know about the fire after hearing Sreedhanya's cry in the morning. The locals rushed Sreedhanya to the hospital with burns. Police and firefighters were informed. The fire was doused after they reached the spot.

Although the couple was taken to a hospital in Kattappana, they were declared dead. The bodies of the two are kept at Idukki Medical College. Kattappana DySP Nishad Mon said family issues led the couple to take the drastic step. Raveendran had sent a message mentioning about the suicide in their family WhatsApp group.