The death of K. Akila, 27, a techie who fell victim to the forest fires in Theni district on Monday, has left her elderly parents bereaved of their only child.
The daughter of Krishnamurthy, 70, a retired State government official, and Shanthi, 60, Akila joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) two years ago and was working in Chennai.
She was among the participants of the ill-fated, all-female expedition organised by the Chennai Trekking Club.
“The elderly couple were dumbstruck when the news of their daughter’s death was broken to them. In fact, Akila’s mother swooned, and her friends and neighbours had to step in to help her regain consciousness. We simply couldn’t believe that such a fate would befall the quiet, devout and gifted girl, who had a keen interest in eco-conservation — a pull-factor that drew her to the Theni hills,” said Balaji, a relative of the deceased.
Relatives and friends escorted the elderly couple to receive Akila’s body. Meanwhile, Professor Krishnamurthy, a former Principal of the AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Poondi, and his family are having a torrid time as his daughter Sai Vasumathi, 26, is among those injured in the forest fire. Having suffered more than 40% burns, she is being treated at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.
Along with their friends and relatives, Vasumathi’s parents have rushed to Madurai to be with their daughter.
When contacted, Prof. Krishnamurthy said his daughter was responding to treatment and was getting better.
