Rescue effort fails as three swept in gushing waters

Forty-five year Jayaletchumi, a mother of three returning home from work last evening was one of the victims who was swept away in the flood waters in the Nawalapitiya area. Two others who reached out to help her also suffered a similar fate.

They were all residents of Ketabula-Akkarakanda estate. They all believed they could safely get across Ketabula Akkarakanda river, which is a tributary that carries water to Mahavali river. It is common for water to go over the bridge when it rains, and the people of the area said that people cross the bridge with the help of a rope. Yesterday was not an unusual situation.

Around 2.00 pm Jayaletchumi,  who had gone to work in the garden trying to cross the bridge, slipped and fell into the river after her hand slipped off the rope.

Following this, 52-year-old Sathyaseelan, a father of 3, and 36-year-old Chandramohan, a father of 3, tried to save the woman, but they too were swept away. Pictures captured by mobile phones show the woman being swept away despite the water level not being too high. 

“Though water level was not high, the water current was strong”, a resident said. Soldiers attached to the Kothmale military camp arrived to help search for the three persons. (Pix and text by K. Krishanthan)