An elderly paralysed woman is believed to have spent her last days trapped inside her locked home beside the lifeless body of her husband, crying for help that never came. Police suspect that after 75-year-old Gangadhar Bhongade collapsed in the kitchen following a fall that caused a serious head injury, his wife Kaushalya Bhongade (70), who was bedridden and unable to walk due to paralysis and severe knee problems, was left completely helpless inside the house. With no one around to look after them and loud music continuously playing inside the residence, her cries are believed to have gone unheard for days. Unable to even fetch herself a glass of water, the elderly woman reportedly remained stranded on the bed and waiting in vain for someone to come to her rescue. As the days passed, the bodies remained undiscovered inside the silent house while neighbours stayed unaware of the elders dying behind closed doors.

 

The incident once again brings attention to the painful loneliness of many elderly couples living alone silently in cities. Gangadhar was a retired employee of the Defence Ordnance Factory. The couple had been living alone in the MHADA Colony area of Davlameti for nearly 12 years and were reportedly battling age-related illnesses for a long time. The incident came to light on Friday morning after the couple’s son-in-law, unable to contact them for several days, reached their residence to check on them. On arriving, he found the main door locked from inside and noticed a strong foul smell coming from the house. Sensing something was wrong, he immediately alerted the police. Soon after receiving information, ACP Satish Gurav, Wadi Police Station PI Rajesh Tatkare and a police team rushed to the spot. When police personnel entered the house, they were met with a disturbing scene. Gangadhar Bhongade’s body was found lying in the kitchen in a pool of dried blood, while Kaushalya Bhongade’s body was discovered on a bed inside the bedroom. Officials said the bodies had already begun decomposing by the time they were found. According to DCP Zone I Rushikesh Singareddy, preliminary investigation suggests that Gangadhar Bhongade may have accidentally slipped in the kitchen and suffered a fatal head injury.

 

“Prima facie, it appears that the elderly man may have slipped and sustained a head injury after falling in the kitchen. Blood loss and unconsciousness possibly led to his death,” DCP Singareddy said. Police officials also stated that loud music and the sound of an air cooler had been continuously playing inside the house, which may have prevented neighbours from hearing any cries for help from the woman. “The woman was reportedly paralysed and had serious knee problems. She could barely walk. We suspect that after her husband collapsed, she was left helpless and unable to seek assistance,” the officer added. Investigators believe Kaushalya may have remained stranded in the bedroom without food or water for days before eventually succumbing.

 

During the inspection, police found newspapers dated May 27, 28 and 29 lying untouched outside the house which strengthen suspicion that the deaths had occurred nearly three days earlier. Neighbours told police that the elderly couple mostly kept to themselves and rarely interacted with people in the locality. The incident triggered panic and speculation in the area, with some residents suspecting foul play due to the condition in which the bodies were found. However, police officials said there were no immediate signs of forced entry or struggle inside the house. “At present, there is no clear evidence suggesting murder. The exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the post-mortem reports are received,” a senior police official said. The bodies were later sent to Government Medical College and Hospital for autopsy. Wadi Police have registered a case of accidental death and further investigation is underway.