The decomposed body of a 71-year-old woman was found in her house in Tangra's Sil Lane late on Saturday after residents complained of a stench emanating from the house.

The woman's 40-year-old unmarried daughter was found lying on the floor close to her mother's body with two water bottles near her head. She was unconscious.

Police identified the deceased as Krishna Das, widow of Dhiren Das. Officers said the woman had possibly died three days ago.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Krishna had been staying with daughter Soma at the Sil Lane house for a few years. On June 5, some neighbours had called in the police and rushed the mother-daughter duo to hospital after they complained of illness.

“With the hospital refusing to admit Soma, she returned home with her ailing mother. Over the last few days, whenever we inquired about her mother's health, Soma kept saying she was fine,” said a neighbour.

A few neighbours said Krishna used to lie on the bed covered with a mosquito net and Soma would attend to her needs. “We have sent the body for post-mortem. Primarily it appears to be a case of malnutrition,” said a senior officer.