Tanur: A pall of gloom descended on Tanur's locality over the tragic death of 11 members of the same family. The Kunnummal Saithalavi family had no inkling that this year's Eid joy will be short-lived for them. All 11 deceased comprised more than half of the total number of deceased people.
The dead people included wives and eight children of the family. They had gathered at Kunnummal Saitalavi's family home on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and the school holidays. Brothers Kunummal Jabir and Kunummal Siraj's wives, children and sisters gathered at the family home. The family elders decided to go to Thoovaltheeram at the insistence of the children.
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Tragedy-struck Saithalavi can now only recall the memories of lost ones. She insisted everyone visit Thoovaltheeram where the accident happened. "I was told not to board the boat under any circumstances. When he returned home and called his wife, he heard a screaming noise. Even though he rushed to the scene, he could only watch the bodies of his loved ones," Saithalavi says.
Kunummal Jabir's wife Jalsia, son Jarir, Kunummal Siraj's wife, children Naira, Rushda and Sahara, Saitalavi's wife Zeenat, children Shamna, Hasna, Safna and Siraj's eight-month-old baby died. Now there are only eight people left in the family, including the mother, three sons and the injured sister and her children. As many as 22 people including children died in the Tanur boat accident. The boat overturned in the river and the accident happened around 7:30 pm on Sunday.
