Piravom (Ernakulam): An elderly woman miraculously survived after spending more than 20 hours floating on the river here. Identified as Annakkutty (68), wife of Moovattupuzha Maradi native Cheriyan, the woman survived heavy current in the river and icy cold weather at night despite having high blood pressure and diabetes. She was washed away to Ramamangalam, 10 km distance from her place.
It was some of the locals who saw a body floating in the river while they were fishing at Methipara in Ramamangalam. As it came nearer, they realised it was a woman and was alive. Local residents Pallangatt Varghese, Kottappuram Sumesh Unni and Adarsh Chellyamburath rescued the woman.
Annakkutty was holding on to a tree branch near the river bank. Varghese happened to see the woman while he was fishing in a boat. On seeing the boat, Annakkutty tried to reach there but she was exhausted. Following this, Varghese managed to get hold of the woman and swam to the shore with the help of Sumesh and Adarsh.
Police also reached the shore by the time, the lady was rushed to Kolenchery Medical College. As she swallowed a lot of mud water, she is still not out of danger and is being treated in the ICU.
Annakkutty was missing since Tuesday at 7 in the evening. She is suspected to have slipped and fell into the canal that flows close to their house, her relatives said. Her son Eldhose came to know that she was missing only when he reached home at night. He filed a complaint with Moovattupuzha police. Meanwhile, Annakkutty was rescued from Ramamangalam by Wednesday evening.
