Watery grave for six

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Sarath WELAGEDARA

A van plunged into a river off the Kotaseeya bridge killing six persons yesterday around 8 pm. The van was plying from Kalmunai to Colombo. There were eight commuters in the van at the time of the accident.

The van driver and a doctor in the van survived. Three women and three children drowned.

The Police had taken out the bodies of four victims out of the vehicle at the time this edition was going to press.

Meanwhile, nearly 70 students of a school in Mannar were admitted to hospital last evening following food poisoning.

The Police said the students were admitted to the Mannar Hospital. Police added that the conditions of the students were not serious. Physical Health Inspectors and other officials were investigating.

The Police said the students had taken food from the school hostel. After lunch, as the students complained of being sick they were admitted to the Mannar Hospital.