Entry of heavy vehicles to Radella Short Cut Road suspended

Colombo (News 1st) - Entry of heavy vehicles to the Radella Short Cut Road, Nuwara Eliya, has been temporarily suspended, following the fatal Nanu Oya accident. 

Four people from the same family lost their lives in the tragedy on the Radella Shortcut last evening (20) when a bus filled with students from Thurstan College, Colombo, who were returning from an educational tour of Nuwara Eliya, collided head-on with a van and a three-wheeler. 

Those who died from the family from Dik Oya were the father Abdul Raheem, 55, mother Aysha Fathima, 45, and daughters Mariam, 13, and Nadeeha, 8. 

A 14-year-old boy, Raheem, who was a relative of the family also died in the accident. The van driver, Nesaj Pillai, 55, was also killed, as was the three-wheeler driver Shanmuga Raj, 25 of Nanu Oya. Four others who were in the van were injured.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galaboda said he will assess the road with a team of the Road Development Authority today(21).

He said a final decision regarding allowing heavy vehicles to use the road will be reached thereafter.

53 people who sustained injuries in the fatal crash are receiving treatment in the Nuwara Eliya Hospital.

The Director of the Hospital Dr. Mahendra Seneviratne said one student was in critical condition.