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A man waiting in the massive Dalada pilgrimage queue in Kandy has died of a heart attack, as rising tensions and overcrowding led to several injuries, clashes among pilgrims, and the deployment of the Sri Lankan Army to manage the situation.
The tragic death was confirmed by Deputy Inspector General of Police for Kandy and Matale, Sudath Masinghe, who revealed that the man had been standing in line for days. Thousands of devotees had flooded the city for the rare public exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, overwhelming infrastructure and creating potentially deadly conditions.
DIG Masinghe, speaking at a media briefing alongside Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake, issued an urgent appeal to the public: “Please do not come to Kandy for the Dalada pilgrimage for the next two days. The queues are already packed with people who have been waiting for two to three days.”
The situation spiraled late at night around 1 a.m., when throngs of pilgrims from Kurunegala, Matale, Ampitiya, and Madawala converged on Katugastota. As space ran out on both roadsides, desperate individuals sought alternative paths and even crowded onto an old iron bridge, now abandoned and unsafe.
“About two dozen people had climbed onto the old Katugastota bridge, which was never intended for pedestrian use,” Masinghe stated. “The Road Development Authority immediately advised evacuation. Had we not removed them in time, we would have witnessed a catastrophe.”
The removal was not without resistance. Many in the crowd initially refused to move, forcing police to call in additional Army reinforcements to ensure safety. Though the situation was momentarily stabilized, fresh tensions erupted as pilgrims advanced to access basic facilities like toilets during the night.
Security forces, including the Special Task Force and military personnel, are now maintaining a constant presence in the area. Despite their efforts, controlling the volatile crowd has proven to be an immense challenge.
Authorities have reiterated their plea to the public to stay away until the situation can be better managed, as the combination of high temperatures, exhaustion, and frustration continues to create dangerous flashpoints.
