Boy dies in orphanage fire

Yasaratne Gamage

A six-year-old boy died of burn injuries after a fire broke out on the second floor of a two storeyed orphanage in Thihariya, Kalagedihena. The incident occurred around noon yesterday.

Nittambuwa disaster management officer Ajith Nishantha said that the child had gone up to the second storey to fetch a ball.

The room had been used to store some mattresses which had caught fire. Bicycles in the room had blocked the child from escaping, according to sources.

The victim’s elder brother is also living in the same orphanage while their mother was abroad. Another 13 boys are provided shelter at the centre. Nittambuwa Police are investigating.