COVID-19 scare: Andhra police rescues family locked in for 15 months, fearing death

Andhra Pradesh police on Wednesday rescued a four-member family who had reportedly confined themselves to a tent house for almost 15 months in Kadali village fearing COVID-19 infection.

Kadali village sarpanch Choppala Gurunath informed that Gurunath, his wife Ruthamma, 50, and their children Kanthamani, 32, and Rani, 30, locked themselves almost 15 months ago when one of their neighbour died due to COVID-19.

A village volunteer who went to get their thumb impression for allowing a housing plot for them under a government scheme came to know of their situation and immediately informed the village sarpanch and others.

ANI quoted Gurunath saying, “The family of Chuttugalla Benny, his wife, and two children, have been residing here. They were afraid of Corona so they locked themselves in the house for almost 15 months.  Any volunteer or ASHA worker who went to that house used to return as nobody was responding. Recently some of their relatives informed that three people have locked themselves in that house and their health is in bad condition.”

He added, “Coming to know the matter, we rushed to this place and informed the police. Rajole Sub Inspector Krishnamachari and the team came and rescued them. Their condition was very pathetic when they came out. Their hair was grown without any grooming, they did not bathe for many days. We immediately rushed them to Government Hospital. Now they are undergoing treatment at the hospital,”

The Sarpanch said that the family would have died if they continued in the same way for two or three more days.

With the help of villagers and police, the family was shifted to hospitals and are undergoing medical treatment.