A car travelling at high speed veered off the main road and hit a water pipeline from Labugama – Kalatuwawa Reservoir to Maharagama, at the Godagama area on the High Level Road, at around 2.00 am yesterday (17), which resulted in the pipeline bursting.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) stated that the damaged pipeline carrying water from the Labugama – Kalatuwawa Reservoir treatment plant to Maharagama was to be repaired swiftly and the water supply would be restored by midnight.
As a result of this accident, the water supply to Godagama, Homagama, Pannipitiya, Rukmalgama, Palanwatta and Mattegoda had been suspended until further notice. The speeding car ran off the main road in the Godagama area and hit the water pipeline and overturned.
The high impact knock on the water pipeline caused it to explode and the water had been gushing out of it since the time of the accident. Also, an electricity post that was located next to the pipeline collapsed due to the high speed of the water flowing from the damaged pipeline. The NWSDB has taken steps to stop the water supply from Labugama – Kalatuwawa up to Maharagama due to the high pressure water leakage.
Two people including the driver of the car, who were involved in the accident, sustained minor injuries and were admitted to Homagama Base Hospital.
Varuna Dayaratne
