Retired bus driver Muniappa Naidu is grappling with the recent passing of his wife, Visha Latchmi. Ms. Latchmi tragically lost her life yesterday morning after the vehicle she was operating veered off M.N. Naidu Road in Lautoka and crashed into a tree.
Mr. Naidu remarked on how it was out of character for his wife to wake him before her departure for work, as she typically would allow him to sleep in. “She woke me to say that she was going and for me to look after the house,” he recalled. “Little did I know those would be her last words. She has been my wife for the last 25 years.”
He expressed his grief, sharing, “I am not well these days, and she startled me when she woke me up. Normally, she just lets me sleep in.” Mr. Naidu praised his wife, saying, “She was a great woman, and I loved her very much. Through her earnings, we managed to survive. We were also in the process of extending our home, which she played a huge role in. Now, that is on hold.”
Visha Latchmi had been working as a taxi driver for the past two years. Mr. Naidu mentioned he would need to consult her family regarding the funeral arrangements, which are anticipated to take place on Saturday.
The Director of Traffic, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mitieli Divuana, confirmed that Ms. Latchmi was driving along M.N. Naidu Road at the time of the accident. “It was after 8 am when she lost control of her vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and hit a tree,” he stated. She was transported to Lautoka Hospital, where she was admitted but unfortunately passed away.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to ascertain the cause of death. Ms. Latchmi is survived by her husband, two children, and a grandchild.