Five injured in lightning strike at Basawakkulam Lake

By B.G. Chathuranga

Colombo, April 27 (Daily Mirror) - Five people were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital after being injured by a lightning strike while bathing in the Basawakkulam Lake, the Anuradhapura Headquarters Police said.

According to police, the group had come to Anuradhapura on a pilgrimage. Two of the admitted individuals are in critical condition.

The injured persons, aged 24, 30, 38 and 48, are residents of Payagala, Walpola, and Ratnapura.

The incident occurred this afternoon while the group was bathing in the Basawakkulam Lake. One person was reportedly on a phone call on the deck when the lightning struck.

The strike also broke a large tree branch near the bathing area, causing damage to the tree down to the root, police added.

They further said that the two men receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, aged 48 and 24 are father and son from the same family.