Auto-rickshaw driver dies in petrol queue as energy crisis worsens in Sri Lanka

Colombo: A 53-year-old auto-rickshaw driver in Sri Lanka died of a heart attack on Thursday in Colombo’s suburb while waiting in a serpentine queue for fuel for the entire night near a petrol pump, becoming the latest victim, as the fuel crisis in the island nation worsened.

People have left their vehicles for over two nights near filling stations as mostly diesel supplies have dried while long queues remain for petrol supplies.

The three-wheeler driver had been waiting in line for fuel since Wednesday night in the Colombo south suburb of Panadura and he succumbed to cardiac arrest inside his vehicle, authorities said.