A quiet village in Kerala was plunged into grief on Tuesday, April 15, after a former local leader and her two young daughters were found dead in the Pulikunnu river near Ettumanoor in what authorities suspect to be a tragic case of suicide.
The deceased have been identified as 34-year-old Jis Mol Thomas, a lawyer and former vice-president of the Mutholi Panchayat, and her daughters, Neha (5) and Ponnu (2). According to initial reports, Jis Mol arrived at the riverbank on her motorbike with the two children around 1:30 p.m. before entering the water via a bathing ghat.
The incident came to light when local residents noticed one of the bodies floating in the river. A frantic search led to the recovery of the remaining two bodies shortly afterward, with villagers playing a key role before police arrived on the scene. The bodies were later transported for post-mortem examinations.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and launched a deeper probe into the circumstances that led to the incident. Early indications point to possible marital strife as a contributing factor. Jis Mol’s husband, Jimmy Thonnanmavunkal, is a local bus operator on the Kottayam–Ayarkunnam route.
A respected member of the community, Jis Mol had previously served in a leadership role during the 2019–20 period in the local self-government. Her sudden death, along with her children’s, has sent shockwaves through the area, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls for mental health support services to be expanded in rural areas.
Authorities are appealing for privacy for the grieving family while urging the public to seek help in times of personal distress.
*If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Please reach out to a mental health professional or call a local helpline.*
