Sruthi Sivanna, a 24-year-old from Wayanad’s Mundakkai, is on the road to recovery after a series of unimaginable tragedies struck her just five months ago. Early one morning in July 2024, she had rushed home after being unable to contact her family by phone, only to discover that nine of her family members, including her mother Sabitha, father Sivanna, and younger sister Shreya, died in the devastating landslides the night before.
At the time, Sruthi held on to Jenson, her childhood friend and fiance, who stood by her as a pillar of support. The interfaith couple had become engaged just a month before the landslides, and had planned to marry in December 2024.
But fate dealt her another cruel blow when, two months later, Jenson died in a tragic car accident in Vellaramkunn. Sruthi, who was with him at the time, also suffered serious injuries.
“I’m on the road to recovery now. My family and Jenson are watching over me,” she told TNM.
The Kerala government recently appointed Sruthi to a clerical position at the Revenue Department, and it has been over a month since she began her new job. In a conversation with TNM, she opened up about her experiences, hopes, and the sources of strength that help her face unrelenting distress.
Q. How has life changed in the last month?
Now, life is going well. I got this new job and everyone at the office is very supportive.
Q. Even in the face of such relentless tragedy, you appear positive while speaking to the media. How did you mould such admirable courage?
I do not know how to answer this.
I still feel the same emotions I had when my family and loved ones were around me. I know they want me to be happy, their souls want me to be happy. Their deaths, including Jenson’s were unexpected. I believe that their souls are watching over me. If I am happy, they will be happy as well.
Jenson did everything to make me happy, to help me rebuild. I would like to honour him and my family, and move forward. I motivate myself.
Q. How did Jenson’s presence impact you after the landslides?
We were both open-minded. We shared everything, and planned everything together including our future life. Suddenly, the landslide occurred, and everything changed. Initially, I was unwilling to accept it, but when I started recovering from the shock, the life with Jenson that I had dreamt of is what pushed me forward. But then, the fateful accident happened.
Now I don’t want to think about the past. If I do, I will be go into severe depression. I believe they all are with me and one day, I will also be able to go to their place.
Q. You had the support of all Malayalis when life threw curveballs. How did that kind of public support make you feel?
I know that Keralites pray for me. I sensed it during the toughest periods of my life, and even now, when I arrive in the town, people recognise me and console me. They hug me, cry in front of me, and support me. I want to offer gratitude by living a happy life. There is nothing else I can give them in return. Otherwise, my life would feel meaningless.
Q. How are things looking on the health front?
Last week, I started to walk without a stick. Next week, I have a consultation with the doctor and only then can I get a full update on my progress.
Several individuals, including ministers and politicians still check on my health and life developments. Their concern has not been limited to the time of the landslides. All of that makes me happy and I hope to recover soon.
Q. What do you look forward to in this new leg of your journey?
I haven’t decided anything about my future. But I want to continue my studies along with this job. After completing Plus Two, I had done a diploma course in accountancy and then joined the billing section at the Mims Hospital in Kozhikode as a staff member. From 2019 onwards, I worked there, and during that time I had enrolled for, a BA in English through distance education. Now I am in my third year. I plan to continue with it, and I want to study further.
Apart from that, the construction of my house is ongoing in Wayanad’s Kalpetta. The Philokalia Foundation is building it for me. Once that is over, I will relocate from the rented house I currently live in. Apart from that, I have not planned anything.