New Danger Spots Identified in Lower Kadugannawa After Deadly Rockfall

COLOMBO (News 1st); Officials have identified, several dangerous locations in the Lower Kadugannawa along the Colombo - Kandy road near the Maha Wanguwa area.

Kegalle District Secretary, Jagath Herath said that officers from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) are currently inspecting these locations.

A tragic incident occurred yesterday morning where a boulder and earth fell onto a multi-storey house with a shop.

Jagath Herath stated that officials are currently determining the most suitable method for detonating the rocks. 

Officials have identified another unstable boulder at the site of the rock fall. 

The Police said that alternative routes have been introduced for vehicles traveling across the area.

Accordingly, vehicles heading from Colombo can travel to Kandy via Kurunegala and Karandupona.

Additionally, more alternative routes have been introduced:

From Colombo to Kandy via Mawanella, Hemmathagama, and Gampola, as well as from Colombo to Kandy via Mawanella, Ganethenna Junction, Kovil Kanda, and Pilimatalawa.

A special bus service is scheduled to operate through the Mawanella and Kadugannawa depots for students sitting for the GCE Advanced Level examination.

A plan is currently being formulated to safely transport these buses through the affected area.

The tragic incident, claimed the lives to six people, including a woman, and left four others injured.

The deceased include the 66-year-old, father of the owner of the restaurant and the 39-year-old , wife of the owner of the restaurant.

The other victims were people who had come to the restaurant for twea.

They were residents of the Mawanella, Balawatgama, Embilipitiya, and Gampola areas, aged 31, 60, 39, and 33, respectively.

The rescue operations for the trapped individuals were carried out through the intervention of the Army, Police, Fire Control Unit of the Kandy Municipal Council, Disaster Management Centre, and local residents.