Pathulhatha electrocution tragedy :
Third victim also dies
Niroshana Perera, Ratnapura District Corr.
Fifteen-year-old Piyumi Sandanmali Atygalle became the third victim
in the electrocution tragedy in Ratnapura when she died at the Ratnapura
General Hospital in the wee hours of yesterday.
Two victims: Madhuka and Sanduni |
On Saturday, her brother Madhuka Saranga Atygalle and cousin Sandhuni
Upeksha Atygalle both aged 10, were electrocuted while plucking rambutan
from a tree near their home in Pathulhatha, Ratnapura. They are the
children of two brothers.
The victims were among 10 students who were plucking rambutan on
Saturday morning from a tree near their home that was on a hill by the
main road.
A high tension power line ran close to the house.
The children had used an iron pole to pluck rambutan and it had made
contact with the power line resulting in the electrocution.
A group of elders who had rushed to the scene were also subject to
the force of the current but escaped unharmed. Workers of the
electricity later arrived to the scene and disconnected the power
supply.
Piyumi Sandamali is a year 9 student of Pathakada Buddhist school
while her brother Madhuka and cousin Sandhuni were year 4 students of
Welimaluwa Vidyalaya.
Another brother of Piyumi and Madhuka was away at a class at the time
of the tragedy.
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