Electrical short circuit at factory:

Over 40 injured in melee

Anuradhapura Central Special Corr

An electrical short circuit in a garment factory at 27th mile post junction in Nochchiyagama yesterday morning caused havoc resulting in 41 people being hospitalized.

The incident occurred following an explosion inside the factory. The workers who mistook the noise and the smoke for a bomb explosion had begun to flee. Around 40 workers were hospitalized following injuries sustained in the stampede. Factory equipment were not damaged in the incident.

The electrician who tried to attend to the short circuit was electrocuted. He was taken to Nochchiyagama Hospital and later transferred to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for further treatment.