Pall of gloom descends on Makkimala in Wayanad
The Hindu
Gloom descends on Lower Primary School in Wayanad as nine women tea plantation workers killed in road accident are laid to rest. Thousands gather to pay homage, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran and MLAs present.
A pall of gloom descended on the Lower Primary School at Makkimala in Wayanad on Saturday where the mortal remains of nine women tea plantation workers who were killed in a road accident at Kannothumala were kept for the public to pay homage on Saturday.
Five persons, including the jeep driver Mani, sustained serious injuries in the accident.
Mr. Mani who is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital at Mananthavady said he had lost control of the vehicle owing to a breakdown following which it fell into a gorge.
Heart-rending scenes were witnessed during the last journey of the accident victims to Makkimala from the Government Medical College Hospital after autopsies.
The funeral procession, carrying the bodies of the women in nine ambulances, started from Mananthavady at around 12 p.m. and reached Makkimala around 1.15 p.m. The public gathered on both sides of the Mananthavady-Kannur State Highway to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Later, the mortal remains were kept at the Lower Primary School at Makkimala till 2 p.m. for the public to pay their last respects. Thousands of people gathered there to pay their homage .
What was even more tragic was that a mother and daughter – Santa, wife of Padmanabhan of Aram Number Colony at Makkimala, and daughter, Chitra, the breadwinners of the family, were killed in the accident.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.