Son, granddaughters no more, parents in the dark

The street leading to the Kaura home gives no clue that an entire family has been wiped out.

Relatives, friends and neighbours are taking extra care to keep things normal, for the Kauras’ aged parents have not been told about the accident.

“Last year, Arun’s eldest brother died, we are still coming to terms with that,” said a relative. “I don’t know how to break the news to his father. He must know something is amiss, because a large number of people have already come.”

Arun Kaura, his wife Renu and daughters Sudi and Kannika had gone for a pleasure trip to Kerala’s Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. In the sanctuary’s lake, a double-decker boat capsized. Forty-two people died, the family of four among them. Arun, Sudi and Kannika have been declared dead, an official confirmation is yet to come for Renu.

As people gather outside the 2A, 2B/41C in Ekta Apartments in Paschim Vihar, Arun’s father comes out to the balcony. One of the relatives escorts him inside, telling him that people are gathering just for the Sai Sandhya festivities. “They are too old to bear news like this,” says Vipra, their next-door neighbour. Behind the house, drummers and other musicians are already going full spate.

A neighbour, Ram Kumar, said: “I saw Arun on Saturday evening. He was very excited about the trip and told me all about it.”

The Kauras were well to do, with Arun Kaura working as a senior manager at Surya Medicos in Panchkula. He drove down to be with his family every weekend. Renu worked as senior security officer at a private company. Kannika (24) was an MSc student at Amity University. Sudi was an M-Tech student.

... contd.