Nagpur man slips, dies in house; bedridden wife starves to death amid extreme heat

NAGPUR: A 77-year-old retired defence employee and his bedridden wife were found dead in their locked home at Mhada Colony, Davlamethi, in Wadi police limits on Friday.

The couple, which shared 40 years of togetherness, met a tragic end with the husband dying first, leaving his helpless bedridden wife to succumb days later to dehydration, starvation and extreme summer heat.

The bodies of Gangadhar Bhongade, 77, and his wife Kaushalya, 75, were found after their son-in-law was alerted by the stench emanating from the locked house and neighbours broke open the door.

Mohammad Ghouse, husband of Kaushalya's daughter from her first marriage, had gone to meet the elderly couple, when he witnessed the tragedy. Gangadhar's body was found in the kitchen, while Kaushalya lay motionless on the bed in the other room.

Police believe Gangadhar slipped and fell in the kitchen, sustaining a fatal injury. Unable to get up, he died there. His simple cell phone remained switched off beside the body. Kaushalya, who was bedridden and dependent on Gangadhar, could neither seek help nor access food or water in the scorching Nagpur heat. She was suspected to have died later of dehydration and starvation.

The couple, which had no children of their own, shared a bond of love and care. Gangadhar embraced Kaushalya's four children from her first marriage and looked after his bedridden wife for decades.

They lived for each other, finding joy in simple pleasures, said a source. "The couple loved music, and the radio in their house remained switched on, leading neighbours to believe everything was normal till the grim discovery," he said.
Elder daughter was only contact for elderly couple

Police stated newspapers dated May 27, 28 and 29 piled up outside their house indicating the tragedy began unfolding around the night of May 26.

"Gangadhar's body was in an advanced state of decay, while Kaushalya's body was relatively less decomposed, suggesting she survived her husband by a few days," said a senior official.

On Saturday, Gangadhar spoke to their elder daughter, informing her about his ill health.

He wanted to go to a hospital and requested someone to look after Kaushalya.

The daughter assured him she would visit them in the first week of June, but the couple's condition worsened with no immediate support available.

Kaushalya had two sons and two daughters from her first marriage. Her eldest son left home in 2018 and never returned. Her youngest son passed away in 2025. The elder daughter was the key point of contact, looking after the couple, despite living separately.

A forensic van and sniffer dogs were deployed at the spot. There were no signs of theft, burglary or foul play, and the house was found intact. Police officials stated preliminary investigations point to a natural but extremely painful and lonely death. No injuries were found on bodies.

The bodies have been sent for autopsy.