Hellfire in Horana

A 45- minute delay sealed the fate of Care Home victims, says Fire Chief as eyewitnesses recall the unfolding of the tragedy   

• “While we were desperately searching for water, we saw with our own eyes helpless residents, who had been chained to their mattresses, burning alive.”  
• “Eleven victims who had been chained and restrained to seats died instantly inside the building when the fire engulfed the room.” 
• “Following an earlier incident, over a hundred villagers signed a petition and submitted it to the Divisional Secretary. However, the authorities failed to investigate.” 

By  Chamila Alwis (Horana), Sumith Pothupitiya (Panadura), and Bimal Shaman Jayasinghe (Bandaragama)   

 Thirteen vulnerable residents have perished in a horrific fire at a private care home in Batagoda, Horana, with eyewitnesses recounting the agony of watching restrained inmates burn alive.   

The catastrophic evening blaze at the Senehase Kedella care facility in Batagoda, Horana, has claimed the lives of 13 residents so far, exposing a horrifying reality of systemic neglect, locked gates and medieval restraint practices.   

The tragedy, which erupted on June 3, deepened yesterday as the death toll climbed following the demise of a critically injured survivor at the Horana District Hospital.   

Investigators revealed that out of the victims, 11 vulnerable residents-many suffering from severe physical disabilities and mental health conditions-died instantly, trapped in a room where they had been chained and restrained to their seats or beds and mattresses.   

Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene of absolute helplessness as villagers scaled parapet walls to rescue 51 screaming inmates, while others watched in horror as those chained inside perished in the flames.   

The catastrophe has sparked widespread public fury over emergency response failures, with local municipal fire units arriving 45 minutes late, only to promptly run out of water and rely on village wells.   

While the facility’s owner remains remanded until June 11, the disaster has laid bare a history of unheeded public petitions regarding the private home’s severe lack of basic hygiene and institutional safety protocols.   

Horrible details have emerged from eyewitnesses following the catastrophic fire that tore through the “Senehase Kedella” care facility in Batagoda, Horana killing 13 people.   

“The fire engines arrived 45 minutes after the blaze erupted, and even when they did, they ran out of water. We had to rush around the village looking for wells to draw water. While we were desperately searching for water, we saw with our own eyes helpless residents, who had been chained to their mattresses, burning alive,” recounted Chaminda Dangwatta, a resident who rushed to the scene.   

The Police confirmed that the death toll from the tragic fire, which broke out on the evening of June 3, had risen to 13 by yesterday.   

Among the identified victims are several women; Sandepa Sevvandi, Chandra Hemakanthi, Nilangi Fernando, Siriyawathi, Dhanushki, Sameera, Chandrawakeerthi, Sunitha, Iresha, and Piyasili; as well as a 35-year-old man identified as Asanka. Investigations are still underway to verify the identities of the remaining deceased individuals.   

Meanwhile, seven other residents remain hospitalized, fighting for their lives.   

According to Police, 11 victims who had been chained and restrained to seats died instantly inside the building when the fire engulfed the room.   

The death toll rose to 13 yesterday (June 5) after another critically injured victim succumbed to severe burns, while undergoing emergency treatment at the Horana District Hospital.   

Out of approximately 70 male and female residents housed at the facility, 51 

have been rescued.   

Police said that the Senehase Kedella Centre specialized in caring for old individuals suffering from mental health issues and physical disabilities.   

The owner of the care home has been arrested by the Anguruwatota Police and remanded till June 11, and investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.   

Describing the harrowing initial moments of the disaster, villager Chaminda Dangwatta said, it was about five fifteen in the evening when he heard screams from a care home in the vicinity. “I heard people screaming, and when I stepped outside, I saw thick smoke billowing from the care home,” he said.  

We ran towards it, but the main gate was locked. Around 30 residents who were barely able to walk had managed to crawl up to the gate. Having no other choice, a few of us climbed over the 

parapet wall.   

“The matrons were inside the kitchen at the time. We quickly demanded the keys, unlocked the gate, and evacuated those 30 inmates to the Batagoda School, which was in close proximity.”   

“We managed to pull out eight more people who were trapped inside, all of whom had sustained severe burns. There were four women 

and four men.   

“We understand they were initially taken to the Galpatha Hospital before being transferred to the Horana District Hospital,” Dangwatta added.   

He also charged that the facility had a history of negligence.   

“Last year, an 18-year-old youth escaped from this home because he couldn’t bear the conditions in the Home. Following that incident, over a 100 villagers signed a petition and submitted it to the Divisional Secretary.   

“However, the authorities failed to investigate. Most inmates were fed ‘Choon Paan’ (mobile bakery bread) and the place lacked basic hygiene as well.   

“To make matters worse, the fire brigade took 45 minutes to arrive and had to look for village wells after running out of water, forcing us to watch chained individuals being burnt to death as we stood by helplessly.”   

Another local resident, Asela Viduranga, echoed these grim observations.   

“We noticed the fire around 5:25 in the evening. We brought about 30 residents who had gathered near the gate over to the Batagoda School for safety.   

“We also rescued about eight people trapped in the fire and hospitalized them. But we were helpless as we watched those who were chained go up in flames front of our eyes.”   

Providing an update from the medical front, Dr. Rasika Liyanage, the Directress of the Horana Hospital, said that the hospital immediately dispatched five ambulances to the site upon receiving the alert.   

“In addition, a medical specialist and several hospital staff members were deployed to the location to provide on-site emergency care. “Eleven of the deceased have been identified so far, and eight individuals have been admitted for inhouse treatment,” she said.   

The heartbroken father of a 19-year-old female victim shared his immense grief.   

“My daughter was only 19- years-old. We admitted her here after paying an upfront fee of 70,000 rupees, and we continued to pay 35,000 rupees monthly. She lost her life in the fire. It is deeply tragic... she was a beautiful daughter.”   

Addressing the heavily criticized emergency response delay, Lahiru Vasantha, the Officer-in-Charge of the Horana Urban Council Fire Unit, clarified that they were notified far too late.   

“We received the call about 45 minutes after the fire started,” he said.   

“When we arrived, even the Police hadn’t made it to the scene. It was a random commuter on the road who originally called us, and we navigated to the location by staying on the line with him.   

“Although we brought water with us, the fire had already spread massively by the time we arrived, making our water supply insufficient. Consequently, we had to source water from local wells. We also had to summon water bowsers from the Kalutara Fire Unit.   

“We earnestly request the public to alert us the very moment when a fire breaks out, otherwise, it becomes incredibly difficult for us to mitigate the damage.”   

Following their rescue, the 51 surviving residents who were initially sheltered at the Batagoda Primary School were provided with necessary relief and facilities by Army personnel.   

They were subsequently relocated by the Army to a proper welfare centre in the 

Galpatha area.   

Horana Chief Magistrate Lakshmini Vidanagamage visited the location to conduct the Magisterial Inquiry, while Dr. Sandakan Waduge, Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Horana District Hospital, is scheduled to perform the post-mortem examinations.   

Scene Of Crime Officers (SOCO) also arrived at the site to conduct scientific evaluations.   

Further investigations are being conducted by Inspector of Police Asanka Rajakaruna, the Officer-in-Charge of the Anguruwatota Police.