Malappuram Mourns as Hundreds Gather for Funeral of Valparai Accident Victims
Hundreds of mourners gathered on the premises of Pang Government Higher Secondary School in Malappuram on Saturday to bid a tearful adieu to the nine individuals who lost their lives in a tragic accident on the Valparai-Pollachi ghat road on Friday. The emotional gathering saw children from Pang LP School arriving in uniform to pay their last respects to their beloved teachers.
School Community Devastated by Loss
The accident claimed the lives of five teachers, a driver, and a member of the cooking staff from Pang LP School, while Pang UP School lost one teacher. In a heartbreaking scene, ambulances from the Tamil Nadu Health Service carrying the bodies of all nine deceased crossed the school gate around 9 am, marking the beginning of the solemn ceremonies.
Funeral Ceremonies Completed Across Multiple Locations
The bodies of eight out of the nine victims were laid to rest in Malappuram, with funeral ceremonies completed by noon at various locations. Seven individuals were buried on three different mosque premises:
- Teacher Majeed (43) and his wife Rukiya (39) were buried at Pang Mattath Juma Masjid.
- Teachers Ramla (52) and Shakeela (37), along with cook Sajitha (45), were laid to rest at Pang Valiya Jumaat Mosque.
- Teacher Suhara (43) and her son Hisham (12) were buried at East Pang Juma Masjid.
The funeral of teacher Asha (41) was held at her ancestral home in Kolathur. The cremation of headmistress Pulamanthole Ajitha (54) is scheduled to take place at Shoranur Santhitheeram.
Government Announces Comprehensive Support Measures
Education Minister V. Sivankutty, along with dignitaries including Panakkad Sadikali Thangal, P.K. Kunhalikutty, and Manjalamkuzhi Ali MLA, were present to offer condolences. Minister Sivankutty revealed that all teachers from one particular school, except one, had perished in the accident.
The government has pledged immediate action to address the crisis:
- Necessary steps will be taken to appoint teachers and staff to care for the children before the school reopens.
- Children affected by the incident, who are emotionally distressed, will receive support including professional counseling.
- Teachers requiring medical treatment will receive appropriate care, potentially at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital or Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital.
Sivankutty confirmed that all possible assistance from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund would be provided to the victims. He added that the Chief Minister has been informed about developments, and a comprehensive inquiry will be conducted into the accident.
Postmortem Procedures and Transportation Details
The postmortem of all nine victims, which began at Pollachi Hospital, was completed by 4 pm. A special order was issued to complete the postmortem procedures during the night itself. The ambulances carrying the bodies left Pollachi together for Malappuram around 6:30 am, ensuring timely transportation for the funeral arrangements.
Manjalamkuzhi Ali MLA emphasized the immediate need for teachers at the school and counseling for students, highlighting the community's determination to support the grieving families and school community during this difficult time.
