Retired bus driver Muniappa Naidu is grappling with the recent loss of his wife, Visha Latchmi, who passed away following a tragic accident. Ms. Latchmi lost control of her vehicle yesterday morning on M.N. Naidu Road in Lautoka, resulting in her car veering off the road and colliding with a tree.
Mr. Naidu recounted that it was atypical for his wife to wake him before leaving for work, as she often allowed him to sleep in. “She woke me to say that she was going and for me to look after the house,” he shared. “Little did I know those would be her last words. She has been my wife for the last 25 years.”
Reflecting on the day of the accident, Mr. Naidu mentioned, “I am not well these days, and that morning she startled me when she woke me up. Normally, she just lets me sleep in.” He praised his late wife as a remarkable woman, highlighting that her earnings had been essential for their family’s survival. They were also in the midst of extending their home, a project that will now be on hold. “She played a huge role in that,” he added.
Ms. Latchmi had been working as a taxi driver for the past two years. Mr. Naidu is currently in discussions with her family about funeral arrangements, which are anticipated to take place on Saturday.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Mitieli Divuana, the accident occurred around 8 a.m. when Ms. Latchmi lost control of her vehicle. She was transported to Lautoka Hospital, where she was admitted but later succumbed to her injuries. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Ms. Latchmi is survived by her husband, two children, and a grandchild.