Fr James passes away

SHILLONG: The Rector of Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai, Fr James Poonthurithil (63), who was critically injured after his vehicle rammed into a stationary truck in Nongpoh recently, passed away on Sunday at around 7:55 pm.
He was hospitalized on January 14 at NEIGRIHMS and he breathed his last after suffering injuries to the head, eyes and chest.
The Nano car he was driving dashed against a damaged stationary truck on NH-6 at Umsawnongkharai.
The funeral of Fr Poonthurithil will take place in Dimapur because he was the former Provincial of Dimapur Province.
“He may be taken to Dimapur on Tuesday but it is not yet fixed since we are not sure when NEIGRIHMS will release the body,” the sources said.
The source added that the body could not be released immediately, as some government procedures will have to be followed. “Since the police brought him from the accident site, there are certain procedures to be done to get exemption from post mortem,” the source added.