Kokkuzhi: Anil Kumar felt a glimmer of hope when Prime Minister Narendra Modi folded his hands and promised unwavering support. But those words have since turned into empty words, leaving him struggling with a life overshadowed by tragedy.

Anil Kumar suffered a spinal cord injury during the disastrous landslide in Mundakkai and is currently living in a rented house in Kokkuzhi and undergoing treatment. The landslide not only claimed the lives of her mother Leelavati and her young son Sri Nihal, but also destroyed her house and all her belongings. His wife Jhanvi is still trying to come to terms with the loss of their only child.

The Prime Minister met Anil Kumar during a hospital visit shortly after the disaster. For ten minutes, Modi listened to Anil Kumar explain in Hindi the magnitude and impact of the disaster. The interaction raised hopes for meaningful help and support.

“Follow-up treatment expenses and daily expenses are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. While the initial treatment was given free of charge until discharge, no assistance has been provided since then. The state government is covering the rent of our house, but Anil Kumar said the daily allowance of 300 rupees has been stopped, and he hopes that the Prime Minister’s assurance will be reflected in any action.” He said it was gone now.

Anil Kumar was working in Croatia and had returned home to Mundakkai just a month before the tragedy occurred. To add to his pain, his father Devarajan is also suffering from the injuries he received during the landslide.