The Hindu : Pall of gloom on doctor couple's house

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Pall of gloom on doctor couple's house

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 2. A sepulchral silence descended on their Tilakangar residence here. The shocking news of violent death of the doctor couple -- Jaya Prakash Rao Chiti (42) and Anupama (36) -- their three-year-old kid, Pranav, in the United Kingdom, left members of their family, friends and relatives shell-shocked here on Monday morning.

With no first-hand information reaching them till late on Monday night, confusion clouded clarity about the reasons behind the deaths. Jaya Prakash Rao's septuagenarian father, Jalapathi Rao, plunged into depression. The moment she came to know about the sad news, Jaya Prakash's only sister, Shailaja, slipped into stunned silence. The only solace for them was the couple's eldest son, Anirudh (11), was safe.

With the news about the deaths trickling in mainly through the UK newspapers on the web, scores of relatives and friends were rushing to Dr. Jalapathi Rao's house in Tilaknagar. Presspersons who rushed to the house were told not to disturb Dr. Jalapathi Rao who, the relatives maintained, was in a state of shock.

According to relatives, Anupama's brother, Ashok Rao, a software engineer who lives in America, left for the United Kingdom immediately after learning about the incident. He was expected to reach Suffolk, the county in which the couple was living. An elder of the family, Muralidhar Rao suspected that the deaths were due to an accident and said they were waiting for clear information from Mr. Ashok Rao.

A native of Medipally in Karimnagar district, Dr. Jalapathi Rao had settled in Nizamabad district and had a successful medical practice. His other son, Surya Prakash, is a businessman and daughter, Ms. Shailaja, was married to a doctor and lives in Nizamabad.

A student of St. Paul's school here, Jaya Prakash Rao pursued MBBS course in the Siddartha Medical College at Vijayawada and completed his MS from Davanagere in Karnataka. His wife studied in Ranga Raya Medical College at Kakinada and she did her post-graduation in radiology. Their marriage was performed in 1988. Two years later, they left for London.

"Jaya Prakash was a decent man. He came to India thrice in the last 10 years. A week ago he was in Nizamabad to attend inauguration of a hospital owned by his brother-in-law. He left for the UK last Monday. We are unable to reconcile to the fact that he is no more," a relative said with tears in his eyes.

The house was filled with friends and relatives continuously flowing in to call on the grief-stricken family members.

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