Emotional homage for school fire victims

THANJAVUR: Parents and families of 94 school children who died in a blaze on July 16, 2004 in Kumbakonam, paid an emotional homage to the victims. On Saturday, they placed wreaths before the photographs of the children that were lined up outside the school. The children died when a fire swept through Sri Krishna Primary School. A silent procession was taken out by students from other schools in Kumbakonam along with their parents to observed the seventh anniversary of the tragic incident.  Some politicians and local residents also joined the mourners and paid tributes.The procession culminated at a memorial for the children that had been built at a cost of Rs 87 lakh near Palakkarai. A meeting of parents and teachers was held at the memorial.Many parents and relatives of the victims broke down as they placed wreaths before the portraits of the victims. They also placed the favourite food and clothes of the children at their graves. In a procession in the evening families of the children carried ‘agal vilaku’ in a procession through the streets. The lamps were placed at Mahamaham Tank in a ritual called Moksha Deepam when mourners pray for the departed souls to reach the Almighty.