Uppinangady: Abandoned by her children, 90-year-old woman cremated by orphanage

Lakshmi Hegde, a 90-year-old hailing from Ilanthila near Uppinangady, breathed her last due to a heart attack on Sunday, January 7. Despite having seven children, none came forward for her cremation, leading the orphanage where she resided to conduct the final rites.

Hegde, who once owned a house in Ilanthila, found herself in a state of helplessness in her old age after her children refused to care for her. She later sought assistance from the police.

Police intervened and her children were urged to fulfill their duty of caring for their mother, but sadly, they refused.

The then Police Station Officer Nanda Kumar, taking note of Hegde’s dire situation, got her admitted to Bharat Sevashram, an orphanage in Kanyana. He also personally visited the ashram, standing in place of her absent children, to inquire about her well-being.

Following Hegde’s passing, attempts to reach her children and kin for the final rituals yielded no response. The orphanage also contacted police officer Nandakumar, but he was unavailable as he was away on official duties. Consequently, the orphanage conducted the funeral rites for the departed.