This shocking incident unfolded in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, revealing a distressing tale of hardship and desperation. On the night of November 29, it was discovered that two daughters, Pallavi Tripathi and Vaishnavi Tripathi, had been living with their mother's decomposed body for almost a year. The mother, Usha Tripathi, passed away on December 8, 2022, succumbing to an illness aggravated by their inability to afford medical treatment. The absence of their father, who left the household years ago, exacerbated their economic challenges.

Facing financial constraints, the daughters took a drastic step by concealing their mother's body within the confines of their home. The corpse, having undergone a macabre transformation into a skeleton, remained hidden beneath a quilt. Despite this grim reality, the daughters continued with their lives, participating in celebrations like birthdays and other special occasions, all while their mother's remains silently occupied the same living space.

This distressing account sheds light on the harsh economic conditions that forced the daughters into such a dire situation. The inability to access medical care for their ailing mother and the subsequent concealment of her body underscore the profound struggles faced by vulnerable populations in the absence of adequate support systems. The story brings attention to the need for social welfare measures to prevent such extreme outcomes and provide assistance to families grappling with economic hardships.

This peculiar case unfolded in the Madarwa neighborhood of the Lanka police station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where the unimaginable circumstances surrounding Usha Tripathi's death took a disturbing turn. The daughters, Pallavi and Vaishnavi Tripathi, resorted to manually removing and disposing of worms that infested their mother's body after her demise. Faced with the escalating stench, they sought refuge on the roof of their house to consume food, attempting to distance themselves from the grim reality within. The shocking discovery of this situation prompted local authorities to intervene on November 29.

The neighbors, concerned by the prolonged absence of the daughters from the house, raised the alarm, prompting the arrival of the relatives to inquire about their well-being. The grim reality awaited them, and they were met with the horrifying scene of their mother's skeleton. Disturbed by the shocking revelation, the relatives promptly notified the police. The authorities, upon reaching the location, took swift action by breaking the locks on the three doors of the house and entering to assess the situation.

The police, confronted with a distressing and macabre scene, proceeded to remove the skeleton from the premises and sent it for postmortem examination. As part of the investigative process, the deceased woman's personal belongings, including clothes, slippers, sheets, and quilts, were collected as potential evidence. Simultaneously, the mental condition of the two girls, Pallavi and Vaishnavi, was noted to be compromised, prompting further concern and attention from law enforcement. This unfolding tragedy underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues and providing social support to prevent such dire consequences in vulnerable communities.

Upon receiving a distressing call from concerned neighbors, the mother's sister and her husband, Dharmendra Chaturvedi, residing in Mirzapur, rushed to the scene. The gravity of the situation unfolded when they opened the door, finding the two girls, Pallavi and Vaishnavi Tripathi, sitting alongside their deceased mother's corpse in a room. The immediate response was to alert the authorities, and the police were promptly summoned to intervene.

Upon the arrival of the police, the situation escalated as the girls, visibly distressed, created a tumultuous scene, accompanied by cries. The authorities, confronted with this grim reality, took control of the situation by taking possession of the deceased woman's body. Subsequently, they initiated an interrogation to unravel the circumstances leading to such a harrowing incident.

During the police inquiry, it was revealed that the woman, Usha Tripathi, had suffered a deterioration in health that ultimately resulted in her demise. Compounded by the absence of her husband, who had left the family long ago, the daughters, Pallavi and Vaishnavi, resorted to storing their mother's body in a room. Financial constraints became a significant obstacle, leading them to forego the customary funeral ceremonies. In an attempt to mitigate the foul smell emanating from the decomposing body, they employed makeshift measures such as incense sticks. This tragic saga sheds light on the pervasive issues of poverty, abandonment, and the lack of mental health support that afflict vulnerable families in society.

The clandestine tragedy unfolded in relative isolation, shielded from the awareness of the people, as there were no neighbors in proximity to the house. Exploiting their mother's purported poor health as a shield, the daughters skillfully averted any prying eyes by turning away relatives who sought to visit over the past year. With an unwavering determination, they adamantly denied access to anyone who wished to see their ailing mother.

Usha Tripathi's journey was marked by the complexities of family dynamics. As the eldest of three daughters born to Ramakrishna Pandey, a resident of Holpur Rachauli village in the Ubhaon police station area of Ballia, her life took a turn after ten years of marriage to Deveshwar Tripathi from Akhop village, Belthara Road. Following a disagreement with her spouse, Usha chose to reside with her father, bringing her two daughters along.

According to the police station in-charge, the daughters provided an account of their mother's deteriorating health, citing episodes of vomiting that ultimately led to her demise on December 8, 2022. The financial constraints the family faced became a formidable barrier to conducting the customary cremation rites. Presently, under the guardianship of their aunt and uncle, the girls are navigating the aftermath of this somber revelation. The autopsy process has been set into motion based on the submission from the latter, unveiling the extent of the tragic circumstances surrounding Usha Tripathi's demise.

Police talking to the two sisters. (Source: Navbharat Times)

In a tale of grim survival, the daughters revealed to the police the harrowing details of their existence after the demise of their mother. For a period spanning four or five months, they sustained themselves by relying on the possessions within the confines of their home. Faced with the dire reality of diminishing resources, the daughters resorted to selling jewelry, garnering a meager sum of Rs 20,000, which was promptly utilized to procure essential provisions for sustenance.

The meandering journey through destitution saw them exhaust the cash reserves within their home, diligently allocating it to cover their daily expenses. Occasionally, the daughters sought financial assistance from neighbors, further patching the financial gaps in their struggle for survival. When inquired about their mother's well-being, they artfully wove a narrative of her ailing health, attributing her prolonged periods of rest to the purported illness. The community, oblivious to the underlying tragedy, remained indifferent, resulting in minimal scrutiny and attention.

Compounding the adversity, the daughters found themselves estranged from their father for the past six years. This prolonged disconnect severed a crucial familial link, leaving them to navigate the challenges of their circumstance without paternal guidance or support. The narrative of their survival unfolds against a backdrop of isolation, economic hardship, and the resolute will to endure in the face of adversity.

A tale of seclusion unfolded within the walls of their residence, as recounted by neighbors who attested to the daughters seldom venturing beyond its confines. A poignant plea for a 10 lakh rupee loan echoed through their interactions with those few who approached. The ambitious intention was to rejuvenate a cosmetic shop, a testament to their enduring resilience in the face of economic hardships. The façade of hope expressed through this plea masked the grim reality of their dire situation.

The family dynamics took a toll on relationships, illustrated by the strained connection with the deceased's brother-in-law, Dyaneshwar Tripathi. His attempts to reach out and extend invitations for various occasions were met with rejection. The deceased's husband, despite efforts to reconnect, faced a similar fate, leading to the development of a mental ailment for which he now seeks therapy. The legacy of their late father, Vyas Tripathi, a retired railway guard, stands as a silent witness to the fractures within the family unit.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kashi John RS Gautam, intervened, engaging with both daughters to unravel the layers of their complex story. The in-charge of the Lanka police station delved into the discovery of the skeletal remains, meticulously wrapped in a sheet and blanket. The stark reality of the situation prompts questions that linger until the post-mortem unfolds its revelations, offering insights into the nature of the demise — whether a consequence of natural causes or a potential homicide, adding an air of mystery to the unfolding tragedy.