The residents of Kanaka Nagar and Jawahar Nagar, from where Jithin John Paul and Vignesh, who lost their lives in Monday’s bus accident at Rajakkad, hailed respectively, are yet to come to terms with the tragedy that robbed two wonderful boys.
The relatives, friends and neighbours, many of whom had arrived here after learning about the accident, stayed back. A sombre atmosphere prevailed in the two residential areas which refused to die down.
The bodies of Vignesh and Jithin John were brought from Kolenchery Hospital by 3 am on Tuesday. They were accompanied by relatives who had rushed to the spot after learning about the mishap.
In the morning, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Speaker G Karthikeyan, K Muraleedharan MLA, CPM district secretary Kadakampally Surendran and Mayor K Chandrika visited the houses of the boys.
Vignesh’s body was taken to his house at Jawahar Nagar where his college friends and relatives were waiting to pay their last respects. The body of ‘Kichu’, as he was fondly called, was kept in the hall of his house for the public to pay homage. Kichu’s parents Raju and Thara and his elder brother Vaisakh were totally shaken by the tragedy.
“He was a nice person and was loved by everyone. It was his wish that his uncle and aunty should accompany the students in the tour. We can’t still believe that he is gone,” remembered one of Kichu’s pals.
The body was later taken to Kichu’s family house at Malayinkeezhu for last rites.
A little more than three kilometres away, at ‘Mazhavillu’ in Kanaka Nagar, Jithin John Paul’s memory lingered in the air.
Jithin’s mother Mary Etna was still to come to terms with the death of her eldest son and her younger children, Greeshma and Jibin, who maintained a shell-shocked appearance, stayed motionless, helpless by her side.
Meanwhile, awaiting his father from Kuwait, Jithin lay motionless in the morgue of a private hospital. His father A J Paul was expected to arrive here on Wednesday morning.
The prayers will be held at Nanthancode church and the body will be interred at Pattoor cemetery.