Team Herald
SANGUEM: Fourteen-year- old Rowan Xavier Sequeira from Pangulna, Sanguem, who died in the tragic accident at Verna on Sunday, was laid to rest in the cemetery of Our Lady of Miracles Church, Sanguem on Tuesday.
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A large number of family members, relatives, friends and neighbours attended the funeral. Those prominent included Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar and Savitri Kavlekar, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar.
Principal of Guardian Angel High School Curchorem Fr Jerry Fernandes, Miracles High School manager Fr Orlando Lopes, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Miracles Church Sanguem Fr Tadeo D’Silva and Assistant Parish Priest Fr George were the concelebrants.
In the homily, Fr Orlando Lopes called upon the parents to be more careful with their children.
“We tend to give everything to our children with the sole aim of providing them a bright future once they grow up. But in our bid to give them the luxuries of life, at times, we forget to correct them and this leads to unwanted incidents in life,” said Fr Lopes.
He urged the parents to guard their children when young and avoid giving vehicles to minors.
Residents demanded permanent closure of the road at Verna for racing and other nefarious activities by the youth.
They also claimed that it is only when such accidents take place the police wake up.
“The road should be permanently closed,” urged Messiah D’Costa, a youth from Sanguem.
The citizens also urged the parents to avoid giving vehicles to minor children.
They urged the men in uniform to take stringent action against parents involved in giving vehicles for the minor children.
“There is no point in blaming the authorities once unfortunate incidences resulting in losses of young lives take place,” said a local from Sanguem.
Rowan was loved by his neighbours. Fransquino Pereira said, “Rowan was always eager to help others. With his death, we have lost a budding youth”.
