Manarkad: Amal’s familiarity with her own backyard, where she had run around in torrential rains since childhood, did not help Amal in the accident. That child’s life was also washed away by the current of water, the last journey that can never come back for the sake of country and home…
Amal, who died in the current on Wednesday, is the elder son of Manarkad Malam Pandarathikunel Benny and Vinu, a teacher couple of St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Manarkad. Amal was preparing for higher studies after high school when the accident took place in the form of rain water.
The tragic incident happened while he was playing with his friends in the rubber plantation in his backyard, where he had been running since childhood. Father Benny, who had left for school, came to know about the accident on his way.
It was around two o’clock in the afternoon when the children, who were friends, came to play in the water of the rubber garden. Here the water in the backyard and the water in the adjacent field were at the same level. There was a strong flow of water in the nearby Methaparamp stream.
While playing, Amal slipped and fell into the stream. The friends who were with him initially held Amal but was again swept away.
Hanish Lal, a scuba team member of the Pampadi Fire Rescue Unit, retrieved the body from the stream. Amal, who passed the Plus two this time with high marks, is loved by his friends and locals alike. Aplus was obtained in all subjects except one. He was equally absent from extracurriculars at school and spiritual activities at church. As the news of the tragedy spread, many locals came to the scene praying that no accident would happen. But Amal’s lifeless body was brought to the shore, leaving the locals in tears.