Kadugannawa Rockfall: Colombo- Kandy Main Road To Remain Closed

COLOMBO(News 1st); The lower Kadugannawa section of the Kandy - Colombo main road has been closed until further notice.

This is following the rock fall that occurred yesterday morning, which claimed the lives of six people.

Several boulders had collapsed onto a house and a shop in the Hingula – Galethenna area of Lower Kadugannawa along the Colombo - Kandy main road yesterday morning.

At the time of the incident, a group of customers, employees of the shop, and residents who were inside the house were buried under the bounders.

Following a rescue operation lasting approximately 11 hours, the people buried under the bouders were found. Six people lost their lives in the incident.

Four people who were rescued are currently receiving treatment at the Mawanella Base Hospital.

Police investigations have revealed that at the time of the rock fall 10 people were in the vicinity of the area affected. including seven who had come to the shop.

The owner of the shop, Pulandawel Ragunadan Sasidaran, survived as he was outside the shop when the incident occurred. 

However, his 66-year-old father, Rasalingam Karunakaran, and his 39-year-old wife, Nishanthani Karunakaran, lost their lives in the disaster. His mother who suffered injuries is receiving treatment at the Mawanella Hospital.

The other deceased individuals are:

Lahiru Madhushanka Samarakoon aged 31 from Gal-Amuna, Weligalla Road.

Linton Janaka Kumara Jayasinghe aged 60 from Balawathagama, Kadugannawa.

Ruwan Kumara Abey Siri Samaranayake aged 43 from Nawanaara, Embilipitiya.

Gunarathna Mudiyanselage Pulasti Bandara aged 33 from of Heenarandeniya, Gampola.

A decision has been reached to provide Rs. 100,000 for the funeral expenses of those who passed away.
The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their relatives this afternoon, following the post-mortem examination being conducted at the Kegalle General Hospital.

The injured who are currently receiving treatment at the Mawanella Hospital include: Migaha Gedara Sampath Bandara Jayarathna (44), an employee of the shop who is a resident Wattappala; Lahiru Rumesh Rathnayake aged 33 from Embilmeegama, Pilimatalawa; Ruchira Thilan Munasinghe, from Pilimatalawa; and Chandrika Nishanthi aged 56, from Haliyadda, Danture.

Meanwhile, all people from the shops and houses located around the site of the rock fall have been evacuated.

By this morning, a small stream of water could be seen flowing through the debris at the site of the rock fall. 

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) suspects that the rocks fragments in the area may slide down further. 

This location had been designated as a medium-risk landslide zone even before the accident occurred.

Considering the dangerous situation arising from this incident, the lower Kadugannawa section of the Kandy - Colombo main road has been closed until further notice.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunaseena, stated that the road closure was initiated until a situation report is provided by the NBRO.