News
Badulla bus tragedy: Condition of injured students improving, say health officials
View(s):- Mother of one of the dead students recalls last conversation with daughter
- Initial probe reveals accident occured due to a mechanical problem
Pix and text by Palitha Ariywansha and Prasad Rukmal
M.G.I Umayangani
The condition of the injured persons – most of them students of the Kotelawala Defense University (KDU) in the bus accident at Ambagahaoya, Badulla have improved, senior medical officer at the Intensive care unit at Badulla Teaching hospital, Dr Palitha Rajapakshe said yesterday.
The accident that occurred on Friday morning claimed the lives of two female students of the southern campus of the KDU and injured 41 others.
He explained that the condition of the seriously injured ten patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit too have improved, and a few of them have been sent to normal wards.
Dr. Rajapakshe added that most of the patients who received minor injuries could get discharged, yet as the patients are required to obtain medical reports, it was taking time.
According to him there is currently no requirement of airlifting patients and sending them to Colombo.
A senior Air Frce official said a helicopter was placed on standby to transfer patients if required.
The students from the Southern Campus, located in Sooriyawewa were on a field trip to Badulla at the time of the accident. They were students following the Quantity Survey degree.
The deceased were identified as N.M.P.T Hettimulla (23) a resident of Unakolagedara, Karabiwatta, and M.G.I Umayangani (24) a resident of Nivithigala, Tholagamuwa, Phalakanda area.
N.M.P.T Hettimulla
A mother of one of the deceased students, Mallika NimalShanthi (50) recalled that her eldest daughter Umayangani called her father and wished him happy birthday shortly before the accident. She had called her thereafter.
She said that her daughter who was a final year student of KDU called her on Thursday and said that they were going to Badulla on October 31 for a training programme.
“My daughter called me after reaching Badulla and told me that she visited Ella. She said that they stayed over at the Palgahatanna Training Centre. Next day early morning she wished my husband a happy birthday and told one of her friends to buy a cake and give it to my husband,” she said.
She added that her daughter informed her that they would travel to the Rantambe area and visit Mawanella and return.
A few hours later she learnt of the accident and the tragic death of her daughter.
She said that still she was unable to believe that the eldest of her children had passed away on their father’s birthday.
Badulla Magistrate Nujith de Silva held the magistrate inquiry into the deaths at the Badulla Hospital, while the post mortem inquiry was conducted by Consultant Judicial Medical officer at the Badulla Teaching hospital W.M.K.B Wijetunga.
According to the post mortem inquiry the deaths occurred due to serious injuries to their heads.
Meanwhile issuing a statement the Defence Ministry said the accident is believed to have occurred due to a mechanical problem in the bus.
However a thorough investigation will be carried out, the statement said.
Students receiving treatment
The site of the accident
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