18 deaths during Avurudu season

15 April 2012 07:53 pm

At least 18 deaths and 16 fatal road accidents were reported during the Sinhala and Tamil New year season, police said yesterday.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said these figures were reported during the period from April 12 to yesterday morning.

SP Rohana said of the 18 deaths 10 had died due to accidents within 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday morning.

In addition he said 138 had suffered severe and minor injuries in 61 road accidents while 199 vehicles had been damaged in road accidents.

From 6 am on April 14 up to yesterday morning 117 cases of drunk driving, 101 high speed incidences and three injuries due to the lighting of fire crackers were reported, he said.  Meanwhile 95 were found to be in the possession of kasippu while another 44 were found in the possession of ganja.

Despite the large number of deaths during this New Year season SP Rohana said the number fatal road accidents and injuries during the New Year season had decreased compared to similar statistics in April 2011 and 2010. 

He said the police had conducted round the clock surveillance operations since April 9 and this strict monitoring had been the reason for a drop in accidents. (Olindhi Jayasundere)