KOCHI: Koothattukulam on Monday struggled to come to terms with the death of the two tiny tots and the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, who perished after the jeep they were travelling in, smashed against the mud wall near Puthuveli Vaikom junction.
There was a steady stream of visitors, including the locals and politicians to the hospital nearby where the deceased trio as well the injured students had been taken.
“Really this is ‘black Monday’ for Koothattukalam. I can scarce believe the deaths of the toddlers and their ‘dear’ driver uncle even though I have been part of the relief and rescue operation,” said Sudharakaran, the driver of another school bus, who witnessed the accident.
The atmosphere at the Mary Giri CMI Public School defied description, with several of the students unaware of the tragedy which befell their fellow students. Though the school functioned till 2 pm, teachers could not take classes.
“I couldn’t take the classes on Monday as I have lost ‘my’ two kids. I don’t know how to take class without these students,” said the deceased students’ class teacher S Sowmya. The authorities are mulling whether to close down the school for a few days so as to give time for the grief-stricken teachers and the students to recover.
“The management will take a final decision in this regard on Tuesday morning. As the staff are really shocked it will be difficult for them to take the class. We will also provide some counselling to the students,” said a school official.