Minor explosion, major panic

By Himal Kotelawala

On Friday, just hours after the bomb blast in Katubedda that killed 21 bus passengers and injured more than 100 persons, another explosion was heard, this time in the vicinity of Pepiliyana and Nugegoda, causing panic among residents in the area.

However, alarm turned to relief when people, including police officers, rushing to the scene found that the noise was caused by an exploding carbide tank at a motorcar repair centre in Jambugasmulla Lane.

According to staff at Priyantha Motors, the gas flame of a welding machine ‘backfiring’, causing the attached tank to explode. The airborne tank hit a car parked nearby. Priyantha Motors technicians said such accidents were not uncommon in any mechanical work that involved open flames and inflammable material.

The only reported casualty was a technician who suffered minor bruises on his hand.