FOUR BURNT ALIVE INSIDE A VAN IN ELAMODERA

At Elamodera  a ‘makeshift’ petrol tank inside a van bursts into flames killing four

Early morning yesterday along Kalutara-Horana at Elamodera in Diyagama area 4 persons in the same family who travelled in a van were to burnt to death when a petrol tank burst into flames.7 others had sustained burn injuries were admitted to the Nagoda Hospital. Those who succumbed to death were driver’s 2 children, a Father, a Mother of another family. The 11 were returning after attending a funeral at Beruwela.
A huge noise was heard from behind the van and simultaneously the van had burst into flames killing 4 and injuring the 7 others who travelled in the van. Those who died did not any time to get off the van. Those who died were a Mother Kusumalatha Thilangani,11 year old daughter and 6 year old Dilan Chamod who succumbed to burn injuries.
The police investigations had revealed that it was owing to driver’s negligence by keeping a petrol tank at the rear of the van which had burst into flames owing to a electrical defect.
Lasantha Deepal, a 40 year old driver and owner of the van. He was very unfortunate to see two members of his family (children) getting burnt to death. His wife who was seated in the front seat was able to get out of the van and escape while the owner sustained burnt injuries. Before this incident took place there had been a defect in the van which was rectified before they commenced their journey.
After the burning incident Lasantha Deepal lost 2 of his 3 children. He is now left with his daughter only. At the time of the incident it was about 12.m.and 1 a.m. and it was dark and he could not do anything. He was repenting saying how he could make up his mind. All those who were killed were neighbours who had gone together to a funeral house living in Handapangoda area. They had left at 4.30 p.m evening of the 25th and the incident had occurred in the early morning of the following day.
On their return this unfortunate incident had occurred. Two others one a women, and another child who travelled had succumbed to burn injuries.
Those who survived with burn injuries have been admitted to the Nagoda hospital. Chamod Adiththya who died was a Grade 1 student of Arakawila Isipathana Junior School who was admitted to school early this year. The other deceased Indunil Dilan is a 6th year grade student of Handapangoda Novodya Vidyalaya also had been admitted to this school this year.
Those who are taking treatment at the Nagoda hospital are the dead woman’s brother Lasantha Deepal Ratnasekera , driver of the van, his wife and daughter Saviksha Dileshi Ratnasekera and the other dead woman G.kusumalatha’s husband I Gunasena and the deceased Thilangani Deepshika’s two children and her husband.
View the photographs below:








The Video captured by a ‘Mawbima’ paper photographer are shown below while the vehicle was on fire.

The stories and photographs by Nirmala Priyadarshini Kahawala and k. Buddhika kumarasiri