KOCHI: At around 10pm on Saturday, Gopika called her father to tell him she was stepping out for tea. It was an ordinary conversation, the kind that rarely stays in the memory. Hours later, the 22-year-old was declared dead, along with her friends Iyas, 21, and Devika, 21, following a road accident near Nedumbassery.
For the three youngsters, life was about working towards a future they could call their own. Part-time employees at an antique shop in Thrikkakara, the trio was also pursuing a six-month accounting course in Ernakulam, juggling work and studies as they tried to find a footing in life.
But in the early hours of Sunday, a speeding car rammed the scooter carrying the three near Moozhiyal, on the Nedumbassery airport road, bringing their journeys to an abrupt end.
Iyas was from Kodagu in Karnataka, Gopika from Mannarkkad in Palakkad district, and Devika from Wayanad. Away from their homes, they shared a workplace and the everyday experiences of young people trying to make something of themselves.
Addressing reporters, Priyad, a co-worker, said the loss is deeply personal. He recalled how they spent time together and how the three youngsters were part of a close-knit circle at work.
“We were returning to work after a tea break when the accident happened. We were on three two-wheelers, with me at the rear. The three of the victims were on a scooter ahead of me. The car overtook me at high speed, and shortly afterwards, the accident occurred,” he said.
“They were like our own children,” he said.
The accident occurred around 1:45 am when the Mini Cooper, allegedly driven at high speed by Suhail Sajeev, hit their scooter from behind. The impact threw all three onto the road, leaving them with severe injuries. Iyas and Devika were taken to a nearby hospital, while Gopika was taken to Angamaly Taluk Hospital. All three later died of their injuries, according to the FIR filed by Nedumbassery police.
Suhail was handed over to police by local residents and taken into custody. He reportedly kept telling those who had gathered,“Whatever happens, my family will take care of it,” which has added to the anguish surrounding the tragedy.
The car was reportedly gifted to Suhail by his mother on his birthday, according to a video she shared on social media. The contrast between that celebratory occasion and the tragedy in which the vehicle was later involved has drawn attention. However, for the families and colleagues of the three deceased, the focus remains on the beloved lives that were lost.
‘family will take care of it’
The car was driven at high speed by Suhail. He was handed over to police by local residents and taken into custody. He reportedly kept telling those who had gathered,“Whatever happens, my family will take care of it,” which has added to the anguish surrounding the tragedy.