Youth missing from bus stuck during Kala Oya flooding

 

Mr T. Pathmanikethan was traveling in Colombo bound bus from Jaffna when Kala oya flooding distrupted their journey. The family is looking for him during the last three days. 

A 36-year-old individual who was among those trapped in the Colombo-bound bus from Jaffna during Kala Oya flooding is still missing even after three days, his family said. 

At least 60 people were trapped inside the bus due to flooding of the Kala Oya river basin on Thursday. A group of passengers managed to evacuate to the rooftop of a house, where they remained until Navy rescue teams arrived and evacuated them after two days. They were rescued on Saturday. 

The individual is identified as Thanigasalam Pathmanikethan , attached to a private financial institution in Jaffna. The family lodeged a complaint to Nochciyagam police as well. 

Based on footage of those who were on the rooftop before evacuation, Pathmanikethan was seen along with fellow passengers awaiting rescue teams. Meanwhile, fellow passengers who were rescued later said some of them had fallen into the floods after a section of the rooftop collapsed, but Navy rescue teams rescued them. 

There is no confirmation on whether he may have fallen into the floodwaters.

Although all passengers were reportedly rescued and taken to the roof of a nearby building before being transferred to Nochchiyagama Hospital, this person’s name does not appear on the hospital admission list. His last known contact was a phone call on Friday evening, and there has been no communication since.

If anyone has seen him or has any information, the family is urged to contact his brothers immediately on the following telephone lines. 0776403113 / 0773863753