Lightning strike kills four soldiers

Ranil Wijayapala

Minneriya: At least four soldiers were killed and nearly 60 recruits were admitted to hospital for treatment as lightning struck the Minneriya Katukele battalion training centre in the Polonnaruwa district, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The soldiers were engaged in training in an open space at the Katukele battalion training centre when lightning struck them yesterday at 5.30 p.m., Brigadier Nanayakkara said. "Four soldiers were killed after they were admitted to the hospital," he said.

Another 59 soldiers were also admitted to the hospital and the condition of one soldier was critical, he added. "Most of them were admitted to hospital for shock treatment," the Brigadier added.