Chitra Iyer pens emotional note after sister Sharada Iyer dies while trekking in Oman; niece Anjali Sivaraman ‘heartbroken’

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Chitra’s daughter, actor Anjali Sivaraman, best known for her role in Bad Girl (2025), also penned a heartfelt note for her beloved aunt on Instagram. “Shaya chitti… I can’t begin to express the grief I’m feeling. It feels like a void of some sort, like something is wrong or something is missing, and the world just isn’t right anymore. Everything feels wrong. You weren’t just our aunt but also our mother, our friend, our biggest supporter, our biggest cheerleader. You were love and light and life. You lived life to its fullest, right up to the last second.”

She further recalled, “We made so many plans. We had so much left to do, so many memories left to make, so many laughs left to be had. I can’t fathom never speaking to you again. I don’t know what else to do but to talk to you as though you’re still here. My heart is broken forever, and I don’t know how I’ll ever put the pieces back together. I love you so much. You will forever remain in my heart, and I will forever carry you with me. I love you more than words can express. I miss you.”

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Who was Chitra Iyer’s sister Sharada Iyer and what happened to her?

An Indian expatriate living in Muscat, according to Gulf News, 55-year-old Sharada was trekking along the rugged Jebel Shams area with her friends when the accident occurred on Friday, January 2. Further details regarding the mishap aren’t available yet. Hailing from Thazhava in Karunagappally of Kerala’s Kollam district, she previously worked as a manager at Oman Air.

Both Chitra and Sharada are daughters of late agricultural scientists Dr RD Iyer and Dr Rohini Iyer. This is the second tragedy to strike the family in less than a month, as it was only on December 11, 2025, that RD Iyer passed away. Sharada had travelled to India for her father’s funeral and returned to Oman on December 24. Her mortal remains are currently being flown down to Kerala, and the last rites will be performed at her ancestral home in Thazhava on Wednesday, January 7.

Predominantly known for her collaborations with Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, Chitra Iyer has sung several songs in Malayalam and Tamil. She has also acted in a few movies and television serials, with her most recent appearance being in the segment Vilpana in the anthology streaming series Manorathangal.