Grieving family seethes with anger

BANGALORE: Well before you reach the village, ask anyone for Abhilash's house and they'll give you directions. Even residents of surrounding villages have heard of Abhilash's death in the accident. They are sombre and point to his funeral pyre by a small pond near Kakkanur village.
Almost 100 persons gathered to console the grieving family and be present at the last rites in the small village near the Tamil Nadu border.Abhilash's parents Varalakshmi and B Lokesh wept uncontrollably for the loss of their only child. Neighbours said Abhilash was not only brilliant at studies but also good at games. "He was a great boy. What else can I say? We will miss him," said Venugopal, a neighbour.
Abhilash's relatives, Muniswamiappa and Sunanda, said he was special to the family. His inconsolable grandmother also cried incessantly.
The family's anger at the school's irresponsibility was best expressed by his uncle Ramesh. "The principal and school authorities have to own up for what they have done. We want an answer," he shouted. Relatives filled Abhilash's house through the day and tried to offer their sympathy.
Brighter moments
To everyone's surprise, Meghana, a three-year-old LKG student was in the same bus and was sitting beside Abhilash in the bus. Miraculously, she survived without a scratch. She lives very close to Abhilash's house. Meghana's mother Bhagyalakshmi K hugged her tight and said she was extremely relieved on seeing her little one on Wednesday.
"She usually comes home around 5.30pm but when she did not come till 6.30pm, her father started asking around. He later went to the spot and brought her back. Meghana told me she was sitting beside Abhilash in the bus," Bhagyalakshmi said.