Pall of gloom in Hemmady after tragic mishap that crushed 8 tender lives

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, June 22,2016 : A pall of gloom has descended on the small town of Hemmady in Kundapur which is observing a voluntary bundh on Wednesday in respect of the eight children of the Don Bosco School at Trasi who died in a tragic road mishap between the Maruti Omni van in which they were travelling and a private bus on June 21, Tuesday.

The whole town is grieving the death of the eight kids, while their families are totally inconsolable.  The tragedy snuffed lives of two children each of three families leaving them totally shattered.

Stevan and Rita Olivera couple from Movattumudi have lost their two little daughters Calista and Clarissa in the tragedy. Stevan works in Dubai.  The other deceased kids Ansita and Alvita are children of Awin and Reshma Olivera.  Stevan and  Alwyn family are related.  Alwyn and Reshma’s son Renvil has  been injured in the mishap.

Ananya and Nikita, children of Marina and Lloyd D’Silva  of Sulse Cross near Moovattumudi also  lost their lives in the mishap. Marina who was a teacher at Don Bosco School in the past, is presently serving as teacher in another school.

The injured namely  Philomena, the school teacher and Martin Olivera, car driver  are undergoing treatment at a private hospital while other injured kids too  are admitted to KMC Manipal.

 Though Don Bosco School had its own bus facility,  it did not pick up children from Moovattumudi area  and therefore most children from this area used to travel in Martin  Olivera’s van.

There is also a complaint that  the number of children travelling in the van exceeded its capacity. Moreover, soon after the accident , even the school headmaster did not have any information about the exact  number of children travelling in the van and  also their names resulting in some altercation between him and the Block Education Officer.

   The funeral of the eight kids who lost their lives in the tragedy is expected to be held at Tallur Church and Gangolli Church on June 23.