Tearful farewell to Kaniha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kaniha had a dream, of adorning her thin, fair body with a long white frock; which she had conveyed to her mother when both of them were about to have a midday nap, a day before the school bus accident at Channankara. Her wish turned true on Wednesday as the child, dressed up in a white gown and resembling an angel, was carried to Santhipuram St Joseph’s Church cemetery on Wednesday morning for her funeral. The last rites of the other three children were performed on Tuesday itself. But Kaniha’s funeral was postponed to Wednesday as her father Santhosh was still held up in Kuwait owing to some problems with the sponsor.The family of Kaniha had believed that he would somehow return to attend the funeral of his lone child. But the last ray of hope faded when they were told that he was not granted permission to return. Selma’s mother, who was also in Kuwait, and younger sister, who was in Bangalore, had reached here by Tuesday night. By 10 am, the coffin was taken to St Joseph’s Church, where the last rites were performed. By 10.30 am, the body was taken to the cemetery and buried there.