Pathanamthitta: The newlywed couple killed in a car-bus collision at Murinjakal in Koodal was laid to rest together on Thursday in the cemetery of the same church where they were married on November 30. The couple, Anu (28) and Nikhil (29) met with the tragedy on the Punalur-Muvattupuzha state highway while returning home from their honeymoon in Malaysia.

Their fathers, Biju and Eapen, who had gone to Thiruvananthapuram airport to pick up the couple, also lost their lives in the crash. The accident occurred when the car driven by Biju collided with a tourist bus carrying Sabarimala pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Sunday.

The mortal remains of the four, who all belonged to the same parish, were laid to rest together following a public homage at their residences and at Poonkavu St. Mary's Malankara Syriac Catholic Church. Funeral ceremonies began at their homes on Thursday morning. Initially, the bodies of Anu, Nikhil, and Biju were brought to Anu’s residence. Later, the remains of the couple were taken for public homage at Nikhil’s house, which is only one kilometre away.

The funeral ceremony commenced at 12:30 on Thursday in the church. Both families have decided to conduct the rituals together. Thousands of people paid homage to the four of a family at their residences and church.

Nikhil and Anu were in a relationship for eight years before tying the knot on November 30. The couple had planned to visit their relatives after their honeymoon in Malaysia but tragically lost their lives just seven kilometres from home.