With the Kandalama tank spilling over for the first time this year on Monday (26), some members of the public have been bathing in dangerous areas of the tank in clear disregard for warnings issued by authorities.
The police lifeguard unit of the Dambulla police has put up warning boards and red flags near a dangerous 30 foot deep section near the spill gate of the Kandalama tank, urging the public not to bathe there. Yet last morning (27), a significant number of mostly young people were seen swimming in the same section where signs had been erected warning swimmers to stay away,
Some motorists were also seen taking an immense risk in traveling on the Dambulla-Wewala Main Road, which is situated on top of the bund of the tank. The road had been inundated by water flowing from the tank.
Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Update: Five of the twelve passengers on board the bell 212 aircraft that crashed into the Maduru Oya today, have succumbed to their injuries, the SLAF said.
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