Death of earning members shatters families

JAIPUR: The rashly driven BMW not just mowed down three persons during early hours on Saturday but also shattered the families of the deceased, who were the only earning members.
Forty-five-year-old Vishnu Das used to sell clothes on a cart at Ramganj Bazar in the city and was the only earning member of a family with an aged ailing mother, a wife, two daughters and a son to support.Being the last Friday of Ramzan, Das stayed in the market to sell all the clothes and earn as much as possible. He did not return home last night. When his relatives were searching him at various places, they were informed that he died in a road accident.
Vishnu was among the three persons who died in the fatal road accident near St Xaviers’ circle in which police have arrested one Sidharth Meharia (22), son of Nandkishore Maharia, independent MLA from Fatehpur in Sikar district.
The family was inconsolable and taken aback when Vishnu’s body reached their Kaveri Path situated house in Mansarovar in the evening.
“Usually, he comes by 11.30 pm. Since the month of Ramzan is on, he used to keep his cart till late to get maximum sale. Last night when he did not return, my aunt called up to enquire and we started a hunt for him. In the morning, I was told about the fatal accident,” said Dev Kumar, Vishnu’s nephew, while wiping off his tears outside the mortuary of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital on Saturday.
Other relatives who had gathered at the spot were discussing about the fate of deceased’s son Naveen (14), daughters Ena (13) and Gudia (10), his wife and 80-year-old mother.
“He used to earn Rs 300 to Rs 500 per day and was the only earning member of the family. We had not told them about the accident until we reached home,” Dev added.
Before the accident, Vishnu had called up his wife stating he would be late because of Ramzan rush and drizzles. “In the last call he had stated that since the clothes were all wet he was putting them in different bags and would reach by 2 am,” Dev said.
As the body reached home, the children were inconsolable while neighbours and family members were speechless.
Similar scenes were witnessed when Jethanand’s body reached his Varun Path situated house. His heart patient mother Lajwanti Devi (55) and Bhagwan Das (60) fell unconscious.
“He used to work in a shoe shop and was the only son among three married sisters. He was the only source of income for the family. His mother is not only in shock but is also shouting at all of us asking us to bring her son back. We have called a doctor at home,” said Mahesh Kumar, the deceased’s brother-in-law, who lit the funeral pyre.
“Now we all will have to take care of parents of Jethanand, who was working very hard to take care of his parents and had not even got married due to this,” Mahesh added.
The third person is yet to be identified and police were waiting for arrival of the claimants of the body.