Chennai: Signboard crash victim's kin stare at uncertainty

CHENNAI: When Radhika last spoke to her husband Shanmugasundaram over the phone on Sunday afternoon, he promised to come home with money to perform their child's tonsuring ceremony. He did not make it. A signboard of the state highways department crashed near the Alandur metro station on Sunday after an MTC bus collided with the pillar holding it, killing Shanmugasundaram and injuring another person.
A native of Pudukkottai, Shanmugasundaram came alone to Chennai two years ago looking for a job. He and Radhika were married for five years and the couple has two children - Danusuya and Sandeep Roshan. He got a job and accommodation from his employer - an ice-cream distributor based in Saidapet. But he rarely went home to see his wife and children. There wasn't enough money left for trips after family expenses.
He saw his six-month old son only once since his birth, last month. He was saving up to celebrate the child's tonsuring ceremony at their family deity's temple in Elanjavur. "He sacrificed all his comforts to keep us happy," says an inconsolable Radhika.
"Now, I don't know what the future holds for my children." Shanmugasundaram had a monthly income of 15,000. His brother-in-law Chandramohan came to the city to take Shanmugasundaram's body back to Pudukkottai. Transport minister S S Sivasankar handed over the 3 lakh solatium announced by the chief minister.