Woman dies while waiting in Kandy queues to venerate Sacred Tooth Relic: Police

23 April 2025 10:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

A A A

Colombo, April 24 (Daily Mirror) - A woman died due to a suspected heart attack while waiting in queues in Kandy for several days to venerate the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Kandy police said.

Addressing the media, police said today that the 69 year old victim, resident from Galigamuwa area passed away after being admitted to hospital. According to police estimates, around 400,000 people are currently waiting in queues for the exposition.

"Although 400,000 people are waiting in line, only a maximum of 95,000 will get the opportunity to worship the Sacred Tooth Relic," police said.

"The majority of those in queues include small children, elderly people, individuals with disabilities and those on medication for serious illnesses such as cancer and heart diseases. These people find it difficult to move quickly across flyovers and steps. The queues have become extremely long and even basic facilities are hard to find," police added.

The police noted that such a large crowd was unexpected, and those already in line may have to wait at least three days before reaching the relic.

As a result, the police are urging the public not to travel to Kandy tomorrow or the day after with the intention of joining the queues. To better manage the situation, a special identification sticker system will be implemented beginning tonight to easily recognise those already in queues.

Comments - 12

question Wednesday, 23 April 2025 11:16 PM

Which "sage" came up with the idea of making a pilgrimage in the hottest month of the year?

0 13

wickrama Wijayasiri Thursday, 24 April 2025 12:21 AM

Sheer lunacy and inefficiency of the management. Although we boast loud about the competence of our professionals, sad they cannot even plan an event like this. Saudis do this every year under the maddening heat and sand.

0 15

Banda the realist Thursday, 24 April 2025 11:47 AM

Sheer lunacy of people too mate. Why do those people believe that they should see this at any cost? If they do, they should already be very successful people in life as their religion made them successful? Religions should be kept at a distance and too much of it is no good at all. But you can't change these people. They are brian wired.

0 5

Smh Thursday, 24 April 2025 12:29 AM

Either have the relic displayed more often for devotees to visit and reduce the one-time crowds or manage the crowds efficiently by working together with other departments. As for the people, it is not worth suffering and dying at poorly planned events whether it is religious or secular. In the end loved ones are left to bear th

0 10

Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 24 April 2025 05:08 AM

Typical mismanagement by No Plan Pacha party .

4 9

maha Thursday, 24 April 2025 07:13 AM

Really sad news of an innocent life, should think mechanism for people to worship freely, keeping open to the public.

0 11

true buddhist Thursday, 24 April 2025 08:02 AM

utter chaos, organizers should have anticipated crowd as exposition taking place after 16 years. Whole Kandy stinks with human excreta. Should increase the time of exposition from 9am to 6pm instead of 11.30 to 5 pm.

1 9

European Thursday, 24 April 2025 10:57 AM

Letting elderly die in a queue again, like some years ago in queues for stores. What a country. And you all have big mouths about how we treat our vulnerable people? Hypocrites!

2 8

Karthika silva Thursday, 24 April 2025 12:24 PM

go to makka, learn how they manage crowd during hajj, entire world muslim population come there and get all facilities

1 1

don Thursday, 24 April 2025 01:36 PM

Dear In hajj, there are over 100 people die due to stampede every year

0 2

Citizens Thursday, 24 April 2025 01:21 PM

In this country however much you do something in an organised manner the people’s cooperation is very little and unappreciated . We live in a country where people are never grateful or satisfied they want everything to be instant and close at hand don’t want to reach out or stretch a little beyond their nose.

0 2

Poor planning targeting the election Thursday, 24 April 2025 02:23 PM

Staying in a queue for a few days in these harsh conditions for a 69 year old lady isn't a good idea. Her family members shouldn't have sent her to this event. When people started to stay overnight, the authorities should have taken action.

0 1

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.