Udammita residents rescue school van in distress

Chaminda PERERA

Residents of Udammita yesterday rescued four schoolchildren and the driver of the van they were travelling in, when it went under water while crossing a bridge at Udammita on the Colombo – Negombo road.

Police sources said the bridge on which the school van with four schoolchildren was proceeding, was about to be washed away by flood waters, being in a state of collapse. The sources said one half of the van had gone under water on the bridge, when the four schoolchildren between the age groups 12 and 16 and the driver were rescued by residents.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic was reported on the Colombo – Negombo road yesterday morning as many areas of the roads were flooded.

Many areas of the road at Thudella were inundated causing heavy traffic jam from yesterday morning.

This area was inundated last Thursday too after the highest rainfall of 260.8 mm was recorded in the areas adjoining Katunayake. Police were seen diverting vehicles using the Colombo – Negombo road to alternative routes to ease the traffic congestion.