An elderly woman in the Terubazar area of Pattikonda town in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district cremated her deceased husband’s body at their residence. Lalita, who had been caring for her paralyzed husband, made the decision to cremate him at home as she believed she would not receive any assistance for the cremation. Lalita used old clothes and books for the cremation process and informed her son about the incident through a video call. Concerned neighbors noticed smoke emanating from the house and promptly alerted the police. Upon arrival, Lalita revealed that she had conducted the final rites of her husband within the confines of their home.
Harikrishna Prasad, Lalita’s husband, had been paralyzed since 2016 and used to operate a medical shop for income. However, after his severe ailment, the couple faced financial challenges. The police report indicated that the couple had two sons, with the elder son employed at a private hospital in Kurnool and the younger son settled in Canada. The elder son would occasionally visit the family. However, Lalita did not inform any relatives when her husband passed away in the early hours of Monday morning.
Murali Mohan, the Circle Inspector (CI) of Pathikonda, stated that Lalita tried to kill herself but was stopped by her neighbors. The police refuted reports suggesting that Lalita’s decision to cremate her husband at home stemmed from her apprehension that informing her sons would lead to property disputes. The police have registered a case and initiated further investigation into the incident.
