September 28, Colombo (LNW): The death toll from the devastating cable car accident at Na Uyana Āranya Senāsanaya in Melsiripura has risen to eight, following the passing of another monk who had been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Kurunegala Base Hospital.
Hospital officials confirmed that despite efforts by medical staff, the monk succumbed to his injuries yesterday.
The tragedy unfolded on the night of Wednesday (24), when a cable car used by resident monks to navigate the hilly terrain of the monastery reportedly malfunctioned and collapsed.
At the time of the incident, 13 monks were inside the vehicle, returning to their meditation huts after attending a religious observance at the Pūjā Bhūmiya (offering ground).
Seven monks were confirmed dead shortly after the incident, and several others sustained injuries of varying severity. Amongst the passengers, two monks are reported to have narrowly escaped with minor injuries after leaping from the cable car moments before it fell.
Four others remain hospitalised, receiving treatment at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital and the Polgahawela Divisional Hospital.
Police investigations suggest that a structural failure—specifically the breaking of a support cable—was the likely cause of the accident. The cable car was being used to transport the monks uphill when the malfunction occurred, leading to a sudden and fatal descent.
Of the deceased, three monks were foreign nationals. Their remains have been transferred to the Gokarella Divisional Hospital, while the bodies of the other victims are being kept at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.
The last rites for five of the monks were held yesterday at the Melsiripura–Pansiyagama Public Cemetery, drawing large crowds of mourners, including fellow clergy, devotees, and local residents, all united in grief over the tragic loss of life.
