Lightning kills two

28 October 2011 01:52 pm

Two farmers were killed and three others injured this afternoon when they were struck by lightning while working in a paddy field at Ranpathvila, Kahatagasdigiliya in the Anuradhapura District, police said. The incident took place around 2.00pm.

The injured persons were admitted to the Kahatagasdigiliya Hospital, and subsequently, they were transferred to the Anuradhapura teaching hospital. The deceased are identified as Suddahamige Abeyratne (36) and Kiribandage Ratnaweera (44).

Another group of farmers had taken steps to take the affected persons to the hospital after seeing them lying unconscious. The OIC of the Kahatagasdigiliya Police Lakmal Wijeratne is conducting further inquiries into the incident. (Athula Bandara)