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MARGAO
As a pall of gloom descended in Loutolim village after the people woke up on Thursday to hear the tragic news of the death of the four villagers in the accident at Zuari bridge, sources said the four celebrated the birthday of Harley Araujo at his residence before they went out with the Duster car.
Locals in the know informed that deceased Allwyn alias Harley with brother Henry, Priscila and their friend Austin Fernandes and another friend celebrated the birthday at his residence at Devote-Loutolim by cutting the cake and bursting firecrackers at midnight.
The birthday celebration captured on a video shows Harley cutting the birthday cake before feeding it to Priscila and brother Henry. Austin Fernandes and another person are also seen in the video greeting Harley by feeding him the birthday cake.
Sources say after they cut the birthday cake and burst firecrackers, the four of them decided to head to Panaji. They are believed to have told the fifth person, also from the village, to go home, saying they will all celebrate Harley’s birthday on Thursday.
As news of the tragic accident trickled in early Thursday morning, locals tried to find out the factual position of the accident. By noon, a pall of gloom descended in the village as news of the death of the four spread across the State.
Former Loutolim Sarpanch Maria Monteiro said it was very shocking to hear the tragic news of the accident. “Henry, his brother Harley and Austin all hail from my Devote ward. They are known to me and my family. It was very tragic to hear the sad news”, she said.
She added: “We have been told that Harley celebrated his birthday at midnight before they four of them left for Panaji after bursting firecrackers”.
The aged parents of deceased Austin had no idea of the tragic accident involving their son and the other three persons. They are believed to have learnt of the tragic loss after visitors came to their house in the morning.
