Citation

Handagala DM, Gunasekara WDM, Arulkumaran R. Ceylon Med. J. 2006; 51(4): 152.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Sri Lanka Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17461328

Abstract

A routine foray into the thickets and scrub jungle around their humble homes looking for lost cattle or to gather firewood could very well end in a blast and death or a life-long disability for villagers in the dry zone.

The oft-ignored and unspoken danger in the lives of these men, women and children is the trap gun set and camouflaged in the jungle with the maru wela (trigger line) hardly visible to the naked eye. But can the authorities ignore this preventable danger any longer?

At least 200 people fall victim to trap guns each year and many of them die of their injuries, data collected from the Anuradhapura General Hospital reveal. Many are disabled for life, becoming a burden to their already impoverished families.

Language: en