75-year-old woman dies of burn injuries

An elderly woman in Kirikitta, Weliweriya died of burn injuries when a fire broke out in the house on Saturday (25) night.

Investigations revealed that the 75-year-old victim, Nandawathi Adikari and her ailing husband were fast asleep in the house when the fire broke out. The room occupied by the woman had been gutted. Her two sons living in nearby houses and the neighours who rushed to the scene on hearing the cries of her husband had doused the fire and took her to hospital only to be pronounced dead.

Police said an electrical short circuit would have sparked the fire but it was yet to be established. Sergeant 48947 Douglas, and PC 74512 Ariyaratne are conducting further investigations on the instructions of OIC Weleweriya Police, IP Pradeep Atapattu.

Her two sons and the neighours who rushed to the scene on hearing the cries of her husband had doused the fire