Man Dies After Backhoe Overturns in Udugama

A tragic accident in Hidoowita, within the Udugama police jurisdiction, claimed the life of a 69-year-old man on August 8. The victim, identified as Edirisinghe Arachchige Premasiri, a resident of Bangama Road, Udugama, died instantly when a backhoe overturned and struck him.

The backhoe, which belongs to the Galle Irrigation Department, was reportedly being used as part of the government's island-wide "Attama" cleanliness program near the Bandiyadola bridge. The accident happened as the machinery was being loaded onto a truck after the cleaning work concluded.

According to police, the backhoe toppled over while being loaded, falling onto the man who was standing nearby. He sustained fatal head injuries and died at the scene.

The operator of the backhoe has been taken into custody. Udugama police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.