Two-year-old Madushani run over by father's bus

by Ananda AGALAKADA and PRASAD Purnamal -Puttalam cor,

Madushani's mother, Manel is unable to control her emotions

The victim, little Madhushani

A two-year-old-girl, Madushani Probodani of Thabbowa Puttalam died on the spot after being run over by her father's bus a few days ago.

Madushani's father, 37-year-old Pradeep Krishantha is a driver. He strived hard to sustain his only child and wife providing all their needs when tragedy struck the family.

Madushani's mother Manel Surangi was a hardworking housewife who loved her daughter and husband. On the night before fate took its toll, Krishantha and Manel nestled their daughter and went to bed dreaming about a bright future for their little girl. They never imagined destiny would make their tomorrow miserable. On the ill-fated day, September 26, they saw their castle crumble.

Krishantha plies his bus between Puttalam and Thabbowa. On that fateful day after duty, the bus had been parked in his compound. Madushani his daughter had made it a habit to play inside the bus as she was not afraid to get into the bus.

On that morning, Krishantha left his home for employment kissing his daughter goodbye as usual.

Krishantha's house is by the roadside of Thabbowa. He had made it a habit to stop by his home whenever he passed by.

The ill-fated bus

Manel and her daughter too looked forward to Krishantha stopping at the doorstep. On September 26, Krishantha plied his bus from Puttalam to Thabbowa, as usual he made sure to drop into his home. Krishantha stopped the bus near his house and sounded the horn and asked his wife to bring a bottle of water .

While Manel brought the bottle of water, their daughter Madushani had come to her father's bus. Manel was on the driver's side of the bus and she gave her husband the bottle of water.

Meanwhile, their daughter had crept under the bus not known to anyone. As soon as Krishantha got the bottle of water he drove the bus forward. Another woman, a neighbour who had seen Madushani creeping under the bus had shouted that the child was under.

By then, Madushani's one hand had been run over by the rear wheel of the bus. Krishantha panicking had jumped down from the bus without activating the hand breaks.

The bus had then jerked back and had run over the child and she died on the spot.

Krishantha who could not bear his grief attempted to commit suicide by drinking kerosene oil. Neighbours had admitted him to hospital. Whenever Krishantha goes back home from hospital he is sure to feel the loss of his precious daughter who died at his hands!