A family in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district is mourning two deaths that came within the space of a single hour, after a woman collapsed from grief less than sixty minutes after her sister-in-law's sudden passing. On Sunday evening, both women's funeral biers were carried out from the same courtyard, a sight that left everyone present in tears. News of the back-to-back deaths spread through Badaran village within hours, drawing relatives and neighbours from nearby homes to console the grieving household.
A sudden collapse in Badaran village, Nadaun
The tragedy unfolded in Badaran village under the Nadaun subdivision of Hamirpur district. Around 10:30 am on Sunday, Shakuntala Devi, wife of the late Ishwar Das, fell seriously ill at home without warning. As her condition worsened rapidly, her son Vijay Kumar and other family members rushed her to the hospital in Nadaun, hoping doctors could stabilise her in time. Every effort was made at the hospital to revive her, but Shakuntala Devi could not survive and was declared dead shortly after she was brought in.
Her sister-in-law died within the hour
Word of Shakuntala Devi's death spread quickly through the household and the village, plunging the family into grief. When her jethani, Kamlesh Kumari, learned of the death, she was overcome with shock and broke down crying uncontrollably, unable to accept that she had lost her sister-in-law so suddenly. While the family was still making arrangements for Shakuntala Devi's last rites, Kamlesh Kumari's own health suddenly deteriorated around 11:30 am. Relatives rushed her to the same hospital in Nadaun, but despite the doctors' best efforts, she too could not be saved. In barely an hour, the family had lost two women from the same household, leaving the entire village of Badaran in shock.
A bond closer than sisters-in-law
According to relatives and villagers, the affection between Shakuntala Devi and Kamlesh Kumari went far beyond the usual jethani-devrani relationship. The two had shared each other's joys and sorrows like blood sisters for years. It was this closeness, family members say, that made the news of Shakuntala Devi's sudden death such an unbearable blow for Kamlesh Kumari.
Two biers, one courtyard, one funeral pyre together
By Sunday evening, when the biers of both women were lifted together from the same courtyard, everyone present was moved to tears, family, relatives and villagers alike. The two biers were then carried together to the cremation ground on the edge of the village, where their pyres were arranged side by side. The sight of two women from the same family being laid to rest together, within hours of each other, left hundreds of mourners who had gathered there in tears.
Former MLA visits grieving family
On hearing of the deaths, former MLA Vijay Agnihotri arrived in Badaran village and met the grieving family to offer his condolences. He prayed for the family to find the strength to bear the loss and consoled the members present, assuring them that the village and the wider community would stand by them through this difficult time. In the days ahead, the family will observe the customary mourning rituals for both women together. Badaran village remains in mourning following the twin deaths.
