Mentally challenged man found sitting by dad's body for 5 days

For five days 40-year-old mentally challenged Britto sat by the side of father's decomposed body at their home at Jeevanagar area here, unaware that the septuagenarian had passed away.

He was found in a semi-conscious state by police today after they broke open the door of the house on a complaint from neighbours about a foul smell emanating from there.

They said Britto was in a dehydrated state and did not seem to have eaten any food during this period.He was not even aware that his father Arul Raj (73) had passed away, they said. Police found a daily calendar with the April 25 as the last date torn out.

Since neighbours said they had seen Arul Raj going out of the house that day to fetch water, police presume he might have died the following day. Britto has been hospitalised, police said.

-PTI