2 dead with earth embankment collapsing in Moragahakanda Kalu Ganga Project

The number of victims who died being covered by an earth embankment of the Moragahakanda -- Kalu Ganga Irrigation Project has now risen to two. At the beginning the information received was that 1 person who was injured had died and that 2 were wounded and that rescue operations were underway to save 1 person involved in this

tragedy. However, this technician who had come to attend to some repairs of a backhoe machine was rescued around 5.21 pm and was subsequently taken to Dambulla Hospital when he had breathed his last in the process. For a period of close upon 10 hours the Army, the Police officers of Mahaweli together with villagers in surrounding environs had exerted themselves tirelessly to rescue the victim concerned. An Army operation was initiated as a rescue process under instructions of Major General Shavendra Silva directing a team comprising 30 Army Commandos in two MI 17 type helicopters from Ganemulla Army Camp to Laggala. But unfortunately the victim had met with this unfortunate fate in the end.