Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 5: The tragic wall collapse that occurred early Wednesday morning at Naguri in Kankanady has plunged several lives into darkness. Each victim affected by the disaster has a heartbreaking story to tell.
Balakrishna Acharya (51), originally a resident of Paniyur Melmane in Belapu village of Kaup taluk, is now staring at a bleak future. He lost his wife, Shantha, who died after being trapped under the debris. Balakrishna, who sustained severe injuries to his chest and leg, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital and is awaiting surgery.
Hailing from a poor family, Balakrishna had already lost the use of one of his legs but continued to lead a life of self-respect. He worked as a carpenter at a small company in Mangaluru and commuted using a three-wheeler. His wife, Shantha, worked in an ice cream factory. The couple had no children.
About 15 days before the incident, Balakrishna developed severe pain in his functional leg, making it difficult for him to even visit the washroom at night. He had to rely on his wife to help him get up. To make things easier, for the past week, the couple had been sleeping in the kitchen located near the washroom.
On Wednesday, due to heavy rains, the retaining wall behind their house collapsed onto the kitchen wall, crashing down on Balakrishna and Shantha. While Shantha lost her life, Balakrishna survived with grievous injuries.
Having lost his home, his life partner, and his mobility, he is now haunted by the worry of how he will manage to work and survive in the days to come. He is currently hoping for financial assistance from the authorities and generous donors to rebuild his shattered life.