PALLURUTHY: A mother succumbed to COVID-19 even before she could get enough of her newborn babies. Rajalakshmi (28), a native of Thiruvananthapuram and wife Shinoj of AD Puram House at Indira Gandhi Road, passed away at Sunrise Hospital in Kakkanad.

Rajalakshmi was admitted to Kalamassery medical college hospital while she was 8 months pregnant. She gave birth to her daughters on September 18. One of her babies also tested positive. Meanwhile, pneumonia got hold of Rajalakshmi as she was shifted to Sunrise Hospital with her daughters. She was on life support at the hospital. The hospital sources said that the babies are safe.

More than Rs 10 lakhs was spent for medical expense so far. They are a financially weak family. Shinoj is a carpenter.

Rajalakshmi died while the local residents formed a help panel to meet her treatment expense. Shops, residents' association and the MLA here contributed to the fund. All local residents tried to help this family overcome the situation, but Rajalakshmi passed away before that.