Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SB)
Kasargod, May 15: Amid indescribable grief and sorrow, the mortal remains of the seven persons of a family, including a child, who died in a horrific accident at Karur in Tamil Nadu were laid to rest at their hometown in Mandekapu, Kayyar here on Monday May 15.
Moving scenes marked the final journey of the seven deceased - Allwyn Monteiro (29), Herald Monteiro (50), Sathurine Monteiro (37), Precilla (42), Reema (35) Rohit (22), and Sharon (5) - who were killed after a lorry smashed into their car while they were on their way back from a visit to Velankanni.
The mortal remains, which were brought to Father Muller mortuary in Mangaluru on Sunday May 14 and taken to Kayyar on Monday by three ambulances, were kept for public homage at Christ the King Church, Kayyar on Monday afternoon.
Family members, relatives, friends and well-wishers gathered in hundreds to pay their last respects. For over an hour, they bid tearful farewell to the departed souls
Thereafter, the final rites were held and the mortal remains were laid to rest side by side.
Fr Victor, parish priest of Christ the King Church led the funeral prayers. Fr Vincent D Souza, parish priest of Bela church was the main celebrant of the Mass. Parish council vice-president John D Souza rendered vote of thanks
Manjeshwar MLA, P Abdul Razack, district collector, K Jeevan Babu, BJP state unit secretary, K Surendran, vice president of zilla panchayat, Shantamma Philip, zilla panchayat members, K Srikant and Harshad Vorkady, CPM district secretary, K P Satishchandran, Z A Kayyar, additional magistrate, Ambujakshan, advocate, Thomas D'Souza, and Prasad Rai paid last respects to the departed.
Priest of Christ King church at Kayyar, Fr Victor D'Souza, priest of Our Lady of Dolours Church Bela, Fr Vincent D'Souza, Fr Anil Alfred D'Souza, Fr Santosh Menezes, Fr John Walter Mendonca, Fr Benjamin D'Souza, Fr John Crasta, Fr Oswald Crasta, Fr Vincent D'Souza, Fr Boniface Pinto and priests of various churches within Kasargod zone and diocese were present.
Funeral arrangements had been made in advance under the supervision of priest of Christ King Church at Kayyar, Fr Victor D'Souza, vice president of parish council, John D'Souza, and secretary, Roshan D'Souza.
Kerala government releases funds for treatment of injured
Kerala government has released financial assistance to the family from Mandekapu, Kayyar in the district, which lost seven of its members in a road accident which happened recently at Karur, Tamil Nadu.
The government had earlier released a sum of Rs 70,000 as exigency assistance for conducting the funeral. An aditional amount of two lac rupees has been released now for the treatment of three of the family members who suffered serious injuries in the said accident and currently undergoing treatment at Kaveri Super Specialty Hospital, Karur.
State revenue minister, E Chandrasekharan, who had visited the home of the deceased victims, had persisted with the chief minister to sanction the financial assistance. The revenue minister instructed the district collector to see that the funds are disbursed to the family without any delay.