Five passengers die in ferry mishap

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 16:15 GMT]
Five passengers, three women and two children drowned in Yan Oya when a bus bound to Trincomalee plunged into the river when the driver attempted to take the bus on board the mechanized ferry. Yan Oya, located about 70 km off north Trincomalee town, separates the villages Pulmoddai and Thenamaravaddi from Trincomalee mainland. The mishap took place Wednesday afternoon around 3 p.m., police sources said.

The ropes tied to the concrete poles on the Pulmoddai side of the river immobilizing the ferry from moving till the bus is taken on board safely broke when the crew was guiding the driver, Pulmoddai police said.

Two of the dead were identified at the Pulmoddai hospital as Maria Theresa, 60, and N.M.Nialaya,25. Mr.Mohideen, driver of the bus escaped with serious injuries, police sources said.