A soldier died and nine other soldiers travelling with him were injured in a road accident near the Wasanthanagar junction in Mankulam in the Northern Province yesterday early morning (26).
A lorry that was travelling from Mankulam to Kilinochchi had collided with a pickup truck that was transporting a group of soldiers which was travelling in front of the lorry, the Police Media unit said.
A 39-year-old Army Sergeant who was travelling in the rear of the cab had got thrown out on impact hitting hard on the lorry that was travelling behind the cab severely injuring the soldier. The critically injured Army soldier has been rushed to the Kilinochchi hospital but had already succumbed to injuries before he was admitted to the hospital.
The rest of the nine Army soldiers who had sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at the Kilinochchi hospital.
The deceased Sergeant was a resident of Ehetuwewa in Galgamuwa working at the Murukkandi camp. The body of the victim has been kept in the mortuary of the Kilinochchi hospital and the lorry driver has been arrested by the Police in connection with the accident. Mankulam Police is conducting further investigations into the incident.
Varuna Dayaratne