Mangalore: Tiller Accident Takes Farmer's Life, Family Plunged into Despair
 
Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Jan 10: It was a freak accident that took the life of agriculturist John Paul D’Souza last month, sending his family into a state of shock and desperation.

A resident of Harekala village near Ullal here, John D'Souza had just started his tiller to prepare the soil to sow sugarcane crop on the fateful morning of December 2, when his leg got stuck in the tiller, snatching the life out of him. His wife Sunitha, who was with him at the moment, was horror-struck at the sight. But even in that moment of extreme pain, John told her not to panic and to slowly remove the blade of the tiller which had pierced his thigh. He even told her not to worry as the blade had not touched his bone, and to rush him to the hospital immediately. However, calls to private doctors went in vain, and before long, John died of excessive bleeding.

John Paul D’Souza was a hard working man who lived and breathed agriculture. There were days when would get up at 2 am and go to the city to sell his crops early in the market. To do that he had to take a boat to cross the river and hire a tempo to load the vegetables and take them to the market in the city.
 
Now the entire responsibility of feeding the family is on Sunitha as her sons Joyston Sunil D’Souza and Joylon D’Souza and daughter Jeswita D’Souza are studying in 8th, 4th and 7th standards respectively in Capitanio School in Pumpwell. Her father-in-law Cyril Lucas D’Souza is 87 and mother-in-law Rosy Mary D’Souza is 85 year old. Sunitha while speaking to Daijiworld termed it terrible that her husband who struggled so hard for the family had to face such a painful and heart-rending death.

John Paul D’Souza had taken up agriculture 15 years ago. He was the bread winner of the family and cultivated sugarcane, paddy and some vegetable crops in his 6 acre of farm land. In this ‘Kottari Kudru island’ four families engage in farming, among which Paul’s family is one.
 
‘As labour was not available, John purchased a new tiller six months ago pledging his wife's jewellery in the bank. John knew to operate the tiller very well, however it is a tragedy he was killed by the same machine. Known to be an energetic person, John actively co-ordinated during a 3-day camp of Bharat Scouts and Guides held at Kottari Kudru during 2008," his wife Sunitha recalls.
 
Now the entire responsibility of feeding the family and continuing her children's education is on Sunitha. She does not have any source of income.
 
The family is looking for help from generous individuals and philanthropists.

Sunitha D'Souza
Account Number: 114900101008219 (Savings Bank A/c)
Corporation Bank
Thokkottu Branch.

IFSC Code: CORP0001149

Sunitha's contact number: 9141864144