THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The winners of this year's Vishu Bumper lottery have been finally identified. Manavalakurichi natives Rameshan and Dr. Pradeep have won the first prize of Rs 10 crores.
"This isn't a big amount for us. We have many things to do for our families. The fact is that we won't be left with anything when we finish doing all that.
Many people say that they'll give money to charity. But we have lots of things to do for our families. Then we will do something to the best of our ability. Thank God for the prize," they said to a private channel.
The first prize went to ticket number HB 727990, which was sold last Sunday at the Chaitanya Lucky Center in Pazhavangadi. The ticket was sold by Valiyathura natives Jasintha and Rangan couple at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. Rameshan and Dr. Pradeep arrived at the lottery office today after a week-long wait. They said that they bought the lottery ticket on May 15 when they reached the Thiruvananthapuram airport to receive a relative of Rameshan.
Dr Pradeep said that he came to know about the prize two days after the announcement of the results. Pradeep and Rameshan said that the delay in arriving with the ticket was due to a death in the family and health issues.
Although the two went to the lottery directorate on Monday and showed their tickets and staked a claim for the prize, lottery officials did not accept the ticket. Those outside Kerala are required to submit the notary's signature, name, seal, name of post and notary stamp along with the lottery ticket and identification documents when claiming the lottery prize. However, Rameeshan and Pradeep did not produce any of these. That is why the lottery ticket was not accepted. They must produce a letter explaining the circumstances of coming to Kerala or an identity card issued by the government of Kerala along with the identity documents. They can submit the lottery ticket within 90 days.