The power supply in 80% of the affected areas has been restored, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported.

Efforts to restore power in all remaining areas are also currently underway, CEB Media Spokesman Engineer Noel Priyantha said.

Earlier this evening (09 Dec.), major power outages were reported across the island due to a breakdown in the transmission line from Kotmale to Biyagama.

At least six people died and 10 sustained injuries after a fire broke out at a sparkling candle manufacturing unit in the Pimpri Chinchwad area of Pune district on Friday, an official said.

The fire brigade received a call about the blaze at the factory located at Talawade around 2.45 pm, said Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh. The factory manufactured sparkling candles which are generally used for birthday celebrations, he said.

“The fire has been doused. The cause is yet to be ascertained,” Singh added.

The owner of a nearby unit alerted the fire brigade to the incident, after which a team rushed to the site, doused the blaze and sent the injured to the hospital, an official from the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body’s disaster management cell said.

The six bodies have been charred beyond recognition, while the injuries sustained by 10 persons, comprising nine women and a male who is the owner of the ill-fated unit, are serious, he said.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar expressed grief at the incident and assured a inquiry.

Source – Times of India

A youth, abducted from Matara by a group claiming to be police officers was shot and left behind with injuries in Habaraduwa last night (8), Police said.

The persons had arrived in a car and taken him claiming he was wanted for an investigation.

He had been shot on the leg and injured.

He is currently receiving treatment at hospital.