Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Jun 23 : There were tears in thousands of eyes in between drizzle. Parents were weeping with recollecting the joy and sorrow when their children were alive. They had come to bid final adieu to their children who they knew will never come back. People forgetting differences of religion, caste and creed were praying that such an incident may never recur. There were hymns singing that the souls of young children may rest in peace. This was the scene at Immaculate Conception Church in Gangolli on Thursday, June 23.
The last rites of Celista and Clarissa, children of Muvathumudi residents presently employed in Dubai Steven and Rita Olivera, Ancita and Alvita, children of Alwyn and Reshma Olivera, Delvin Dais, son of Vinod Dais and Desny Dais was held during noon. There was gloom when teary eyes bid farewell to the children.
The bodies were brought from their respective residences in procession via Mullikatte, Trasi and Gujjadi road to the church. People who stood by the side of the road were found wiping tears. Once all the five bodies were brought to the Church, Bishop DR Jerald Isaac Lobo offered Holy Mass.
Kundapur church priest Fr Anil D' Souza gave a homily. Religious prayers and hymns were said for nearly one and a half hour. Nearly five thousand people were present in the church premises. The bodies of all the five children were buried in the same grave. The cries of the families of children were heart- rending. A hymn with the theme “We have offered Your children to You.” was sung.
Church parish priest and vice president of parish pastoral council,Jerald Crasta offered eulogy. Udupi Chikkamagaluru constituency MP Shobha Karandlaje, Vidhana Parishat member Ivan D' Souza, Udupi district SP Annamalai, Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, state children's rights commission member Dr Vanitha Thoravi, parish priests of various parishes and people representatives of Kundapur taluk were present. There was no room for religion, caste, language and status there. Only tears could be seen among those who were present. There were chants praying that the children may be born again. Traders in Thrasi, Mullikatte and Gujjadi voluntarily downed their shutters.
Funeral of other three children held at Tallur
Kundapur, Jun 23: The funerals of school children Nikitha and Ananya, daughters of Katbelthur resident Loyd D’ Silva and Royston, son of Hemmady resident Vinod Lobo who had died in the tragic road accident near Movady cross, near Trasi on Tuesday, June 21 were held in Tallur church on Thursday June 23 evening.
Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo conducted the religious rites. Kundapur zonal priest Fr Anil D’ Souza, Tallur church parish priest Fr John Walter Mendonca and priests who had arrived from different parishes in the area participated in the prayers.
People were allowed to pay their last respects after the religious ceremony was completed in the church.
Byndoor MLA K Gopala Poojary, District SP Annamalai, DySP M Manjunath Shetty, district home guards second in command Rajesh K C paid their last respects. Taluk panchayat member H Raju Devadiga, Circle inspector Diwakar P M, Sub inspectors Nasir Husain, Sunil Kumar, Tallur grama panchayat president Ananda Poojary and others were present.
Traders in Tallur closed their shutters as a mark of grief for the children who died in the accident. Local schools held silent prayers for the souls of departed children.