Christmas celebration cut short

KOTTAYAM: It was with much excitement that Veramplackil House woke up on Wednesday. The excitement, however, was short lived.
A little past seven, they received the news of Jiya Anna George falling off the train at Palakkad. A while later, they were informed that the chirpy girl was no more. By 6pm, an ambulance rolled in, carrying Jiya’s body. Her brother Jis, who was still in a shock to see the girl falling off through the window, had arrived by noon.
George Joseph took the train, 12626 Kerala Express, on Monday along with his two children to celebrate Christmas with family. He was forced to book tickets for Monday, since the train was running full on previous days. Joseph’s wife, Shiny, had left Delhi three months ago, to pursue an MSc in nursing at a college in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram . She was on long leave from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where she has been employed.
Joseph has been working in Delhi for the past 15 years. Jiya was a standard 3 student of Convent of Jesus and Mary School. Jis is a standard 7 student of St Columbus School.
Jiya’s funeral would be held at St Mary’s Church, Kalathoor, at 3pm on Thursday.