KOTTAYAM: A pall of gloom descended upon Paruthumpara, a small village near Panchikkad, on Sunday at the sight of the bodies of two 13-year-old children who drowned in a quarry pond at Ambattuvayal the other day.
Thousands turned up to console the family members of Sharon, son of Jolly of Thadathil house and Pranav, son of Prasad of Chakkalaparambil house, Paruthumpara. The bodies of the two teens, who were neighbours and always seen in each other’s company at school, were first brought to NSS Higher Secondary School, Chingavanam, - their educational institution - by noon for their schoolmates to pay last respects to the departed souls. Students, parents and others thronged the school premises braving the heavy rain.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Panchikkad panchayat president E R Sunil Kumar, DCC president Joshy Philip, CPM district secretary V N Vasavan and others were among those who paid respects to the deceased children.
Pranav’s body was cremated on his house’s premises on Sunday, while Sharon’s funeral will be held at the St Andrews CMS Anglican Church, Velluthuruthi, on Monday at 11 am.