Badulla Fire: Bell 212 helicopter returned to base | Daily News

Badulla Fire: Bell 212 helicopter returned to base

 

A Bell 212, deployed to assist with the clearing smoke arisen as a result of a fire in Badulla yesterday, returned to base this morning.

Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander Gihan Seneviratne told the Daily News Online that the helicopter had returned to base due to a technical failure.

He said a MI17 had been deployed from the Ratmalana Air Force Base to replace the Bell 212.

A garbage dump in Badulupitiya – a five-acre space that had amassed garbage for over five years – caught fire yesterday due to dry weather currently experienced.

Badulla Municipal Council Fire Unit workers had doused the fire, with the help of the Army and the Police, but have failed to stop the smoke from spreading across the town.

Several schools were closed yesterday, and today, because of the heavy smoke that has permeated the area.

Authorities had requested a helicopter to aid with clearing the smoke.


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