KANNUR: Kannur literally wept on Monday for the five children who drowned in the Chamathachal river on Saturday. All the five belonged to the same family, and their bodies were brought from Pariyaram Medical College mortuary for the relatives and friends to pay their last respects and for the last rites.
The victims were Orija (15), daughter of Salijan, Akkam Parambil, Tirur, Sreekantapuram, her brother Safan (7), Ayal (7), son of Jose, who is brother of Salijan, Ayal’s brother Akhil (14) and Manikk (13), son of Binoy and Jose’s sister Mini.
The bodies were placed at St Anne’s School, Payyavoor, where Orija and Safan studied and Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, where Manikk, Akhil and Ayal studied, before taking home.
The last rituals were performed at Salijan’s house, and the bodies were buried at St Francis Assisi Cemetery, Tirur, Payyavoor. “The cousins were always together," remembered a neighbour. "In death also, they were."
The bodies were buried in the presence of a large number of mourners. District collector P. Bala Kiran also paid tribute to the young souls. Payyavoor, Padiyur and Kalyad panchayats observed a daylong shutdown as a mark of respect.
