Kerala residents bid teary-eyed farewell to 'selfless fiance'

Had stood by his partner after she lost her entire family in the landslides

PTI

Wayanad, Updated At : 05:41 PM Sep 12, 2024 IST

Tragedy had struck Shruti, an accountant at a hospital in Kozhikode district, on July 30 when her family of nine, including her parents and younger sister, were killed in the landslides that struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages of Meppadi panchayat. PTI file

Kerala residents bid an emotional farewell on Thursday to a 27-year-old man, who had selflessly stood by his fiancee after she lost her entire family in the devastating landslides, as his body was brought to his village, a day after he succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident two days earlier.

Before being taken to his village near Ambalavayal and later to the cemetery of Nithya Sahaya Matha Church, Jenson's body was brought to the ICU of a hospital where his fiancee, Shruti, is being treated for injuries sustained in the same accident.

Hundreds of people gathered to pay their last respects and take one final look at Jenson as his body was brought to his village, hospital, and church. His burial was completed at around 4.35 pm.

Jenson's death in the accident sent shockwaves through Kerala society, with many, including CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Assembly LoP V D Satheesan, and film stars Mammootty and Fahadh Faasil, recalling his exceptional kindness and compassion towards Shruti, with whom he had been in a relationship for the past 10 years.

His shocking death occurred just as 24-year-old Shruti was barely coming to terms with the loss of her entire family in the recent catastrophic landslides in Wayanad district on July 30.

Netizens recalled Jenson's remarks, made with Shruti by his side weeks after the July 30 landslides in Wayanad, where he said, "The only concern that lingers is that if something happens to me, either today or tomorrow, won't she feel like a complete orphan?" In a Facebook post, CM Vijayan said the news of Jenson's death — the fiance of Chooralmala native Shruti, who lost her parents, sister and other loved ones in the recent landslide disaster in Wayanad — is ‘extremely painful’. "Having lost her family and home in the landslide on July 30, Shruti is now facing another tragedy. No compensation can make up for the losses suffered by those affected by disasters. All we can offer now is our solidarity with Shruti. We share the grief of Shruti and Jenson's families. May Shruti find the strength to overcome these challenges and hardships," Vijayan said.

Satheesan said no words could comfort Shruti.

"May Shruti find the strength to overcome any adversity. Just a call away, the entire nation stands with Shruti, ready to offer any assistance. Farewell, Jenson, with tears and respects," he said in a Facebook post.