Madikeri:  Jodupala village in Kodagu which bore the brunt of floods and landslides in the recent natural calamity witnessed a heart-rending incident yesterday.

Parents of one Manjula (15),  who was lost in the floods and landslides on Aug.16 performed the final rites for a look-alike doll of Manjula made from Areca leaves.

The doll was draped in a silk saree with Manjula’s favourite vanity bag dangling from the doll’s shoulder and a medal won by the girl in a throwball tourney around its neck. A few marriage rituals too were performed. A coconut was broken and the water poured to the doll’s mouth.

Manjula’s parents, Somaiah and Jayanti performed the final rites at the same place where Manjula got lost. Relatives of the grieving family and teachers and students of Made Maheshwara School along with local villagers stood sobbing in silence.

Later, the look-alike doll of Manjula was taken to her native place Bettathur and buried in the cemetery. Somaiah said that they had launched a massive search to trace the body of Manjula after the natural calamity but to no avail. Hence to pray for her soul to rest in peace, the last rites were performed in a traditional way, he added.

Background: Manjula was an SSLC student at Made Maheshwara High School in Madenadu. As only one bus was operating between here hometown Bettatur and Madenadu, Manjula’s father Somaiah had made arrangements at his relative Basappa’s house in Jodupala for her daughter’s stay.

Manjula was a good throwball player and had excelled last year at the Divisional-level tournament held in Udupi. On the fateful day of Aug.16 at about 8 am, the floods completely submerged the house of Basappa. The floods washed away Basappa, his family members Gowramma and Monisha along with Manjula. But for Manjula, the other three bodies were traced. Though 56 days had elapsed, the body of Manjula could not be traced.