Vesak accidents: Doctors and police give different reasons
Doctors blamed poor traffic control as the cause for several accidents during the Vesak season, but police denied the charge. The accusations by doctors came after they heard statements from victims they treated
Deputy Director, Accidents and Orthopaedic Service at the National Hospital, Dr. H.M.K. Wikramanyake said there was a high rate of casualties.
“We received 59 traffic accident patients on Vesak Day (May 3) and 62 on the day after, and 89 patients on Tuesday,” he said.
Half the accidents involved motorcycles and three-wheelers, he said.
Patients were admitted with head and spinal cord injuries as well as dislocations and bone fractures. Some had to undergo amputations.
In some cases motorcycle riders or pushcyclists had been wearing masks or other gear that obstructed their vision, leading to accidents.
Dr. Wikramanayake said that during the festival season law enforcement authorities showed leniency to drivers as well as pedestrians.
He suggested that police restrict driving in Vesak zones and allow the public to
We received 59 traffic accident patients on Vesak Day (May 3) and 62 on the day after, and 89 patients on Tuesday.
walk around freely.
Police media spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera denied that the police had been lenient, saying 800 traffic policemen as well as 1,500 other police officers had been on duty in Colombo city to ensure public safety.
ASP Gunasekera said police had carried out many awareness programmes advising the public to not use lorries, tippers and tractors as modes of transport for Vesak sightseeing, yet people had ignored these directives and that had caused two of the biggest accidents.
He said three-wheeler drivers had been