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“He went to a convent school in our village. And, on Tuesday morning, he told me he didn’t want to go with his mother to Nanjangud, and wanted to attend school where a film for children was being screened. He begged me, but I forced him to go the celebration,” says a guilt-racked Mahadeva.
Lakshmi and the two children drowned in Undabattikere.
Prashanth was not to lucky as other children, who stayed home on the fateful day, since they wanted to watch ‘Kotreshi Kanasu’, a children’s film directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, starring actor Vijaya Raghavendra during his days as child artiste - that was being screened at their school.
Mahendra, Puneet and Sumana had even convinced their mothers not to join the group that was going to savour ‘beegara oota’ at Nanjangud, arranged by Lokesh, the bridegroom’s father for the relatives of Pallavi alias Pooja, the bride.
The wedding ceremony was held on December 12, Sunday. The neighbouring village of Aralukuppe, Katteri, too lost two children, Manasa and Nisha, both aged 10 years, who accompanied the group of women.
Mass funeral
As Aralukuppe prepared to bid goodbye to 21 of its own at a mass funeral, schools, Zilla Panchayat office and banks stayed shut.
Though some shops were open, they closed as the village congregated near VC canal, for the mass funeral.
The cops had a tough time managing the surging crowds. A police van, fitted with loud speaker system, had cops urging the women and men to take care of their jewellery, purses and mobile phones.
Reps rapped
The sorrow of villagers knew no bounds as the bodies started arriving in the village, since early morning on Wednesday. With Vokkaligas comprising a majority of the population, the village was visited by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah.
While the taluk officers and local MLA C S Puttaraju made arrangements for the final rites, none of the ministers, including the district-in-charge minister R Ashoka were present, and enraged residents of the village gave vent to their anger.
“If the Government and ministers do not respond to such a tragedy, what will it take to get their attention? Or, is it because this is a Vokkaliga-dominated area and hence, they are not bothered about it?” asked an angry Puttanna, who lost two of his relatives in the tragedy.
Driver still missing
The driver and cleaner of the ill-fated tempo are missing. The driver escaped as soon as the vehicle plunged into the tank. According to eyewitnesses, he reportedly rescued one or two women but took to his heels after the relatives of the deceased began beating him up. The van, according to Superintendent of Police, Manish Karbekar, belongs to a man from Palahalli in Mandya district.
It was transferred to Mandya district, after obtaining the Fitness Certificate from the RTO, Mysore, in 2000.