Three physically weak women rescued in Udupi

People surrounding the house from where the three physically weak women were rescued in Udupi on Tuesday.

Three physically weak women were rescued by the officials of the Department of Women and Child Welfare from their house at Shiribeedu here on Tuesday.

The three women have been identified as Sulochana, aged about 50, and her two daughters – Vishala and Shashirekha, aged between 20 to 25.

Except for Sulochana, the other two never ventured out of their house at Shiribeedu. Jyoti Hebbar, president of Mahishamardini Women’s Association, said the two daughters appeared to have not left the house for nearly five years.

Despite several pleas by the officials of the department and members of voluntary organisations on Tuesday, Ms. Sulochana was not ready to open the door of the house for nearly an hour and a half.

When she finally relented and opened the door, the officials found all three women looking frail and physically weak.

While one woman voluntarily entered the ambulance, the other two were taken by force by the staff of the department and women police. They were taken to the District Government Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

Ms. Hebbar said the matter came to light after a woman government surveyor had informed the association and the department about the family a fortnight ago.

“We have been talking to Ms. Sulochana for the last three days and telling her that we will provide ration card and food. We do not know whey they were staying in isolation. The statements of Ms. Sulochana were incoherent,” she said.

The house was sparsely furnished. There was a kerosene stove and a gas burner in a corner of the house. Some boiled rice and eggs were found thrown in a dust bin.

Doctor’s opinion

Vasudeva, psychiatrist at District Government Hospital, told The Hindu , “We have put them on drips and given multi-vitamin tablets. We will talk to them only after they recover physically. This might take about four days. No diagnosis is possible at this moment.”

Madhusudhan Nayak, District Surgeon Incharge, said that one of Sulochana’s daughters was silent, while the other was slightly aggressive. “They appear to have been surviving on little food,” he said.

Rajendra Bekal, Women and Child Welfare Officer incharge, said the department would help in rehabilitating the women after their complete recovery.

Relatives of the three women later shifted them from the District Government Hospital to Dr. A.V. Baliga Memorial Hospital here.