Kundapur: Small coffins are the heaviest to carry, they say. True, on Thursday as the skies wept, eight children who died in the school van tragedy at Trasi were laid to rest. Thousands of people congregated to the Church premises where their last rites were to be performed. People who had not known the kids too were seen shedding tears even as intermittent wailing of parents engulfed the area.
The last rites of Celista and Clarissa- children of Steven and Rita Olivera hailing from Muvathumudi, living in Dubai, Ancita and Alvita, children of Alwyn and Reshma Olivera, Delvin Dais, son of Vinod Dais and Desny Dais were held at Immaculate Concepta Church Gangolly. Meanwhile, funerals of Nikitha and Ananya, daughters of Katbelthur resident Loyd D’ Silva and Royston, son of Hemmady resident Vinod Lobo were held in Tallur church.
The bodies were brought from their respective residences in procession to the said churches and Bishop Dr Jerald Isaac Lobo offered Holy Mass at Gangolly and led the last rites. A hymn with the theme “We have offered Your children to You.” was sung.
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.
