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Labourer (52) at construction site electrocuted to death
View(s):A 52-year-old man died of electrocution due to an electric leak from a water removing machine, while working at a construction site in Narahenpita this week, a Coroner’s court heard. The deceased, W.A. Abeyratne Banda from Anuradhapura, was attempting to remove water from a hole at the construction site when the incident took place.
According to witnesses, ground holes for concrete pillars with a depth of five feet were filled with water due to heavy rain in the area, and the constructors had hired an electric machine to pump the water out. Giving evidence before the Inquirer into Sudden Death, Ashroff Rumy, a co-worker of, Jayantha Ranjith, 55, said that water was removed from one of the four holes but some remained at the bottom.
“My friend climbed into the hole to pump the rest out. Unfortunately, the machine that was plugged in had an electrical leak which killed him while he was still in the hole,” he said. Colombo JMO Dr J. Wasuthahewa certified death byelectrocution as a result of an unprotected supply of electricity. P.C.A.F. Rajaguru of the Narahenpita Police led evidence. (CS)