KOCHI: The city on Tuesday bid an emotional farewell to the students who lost their lives in a car accident that occurred at Edappal, Malappuram, late on Monday night.
The mortal remains of Sudheesh S of SRV High School, Ernakulam, Athul Raj of Delta Study, Fort Kochi and Amal Krishna of DD Sabha HS, North Paravur - all Class X students - were kept for public homage at their respective schools and later at their residences. Fellow students, staff members, friends and relatives struggled to hold back tears while paying their last respects to the deceased who were members of the Ernakulam district schools handball team that participated in the state schools championship held at Calicut University campus in Tenhipalam. They were part of the district team that played in the under-17 category.
Mayor Soumini Jain and Deputy Mayor T J Vinod were among those who paid respects. While Sudheesh was a native of Elamkulam, Athul and Amal belonged to Palluruthy and Karimpadam respectively. The funerals of Sudheesh and Athul were held at the crematoriums in their respective areas, while that of Amal is scheduled to be held on Wednesday to enable his father Shaji - employed with the Indian Coffee House in Madhya Pradesh - to have a final glimpse of his son. Mother Ajitha and sister Ashmita are the other members of his family.
Sudheesh is survived by father K G Sunil, mother Suma and younger brother Sumesh. His body was kept in a relative’s house nearby. Athul’s family comprises of father Rajeev, Kavitha and older brother Amal Raj.
Sudheesh, a goalkeeper, and Amal were also members of the Ernakulam district sub-junior handball team that competed in the state championship earlier this year.
While all three trained regularly with their respective school teams, they had come together to train at the Sacred Heart College ground, Thevara, before leaving to participate in the schools championship. “They were talented players who could have gone on to play for the state. It is a sad loss,” said coach Antony, who used to train them at SH.
Meanwhile, a relative of Sudheesh - Mani of Elamkulam - died of cardiac attack before the former’s body was brought home. He was with Sudheesh’s parents ever since news trickled in of the accident last night. Mani will be laid to rest on Wednesday.