UPDATE: Train collision at Alawwa kills one, injures more
September 17, 2011 06:05 pm
One person has been reported killed and over 20 injured following a collision involving three trains in Alawwa. The injured have been admitted to the Alawwa Hospital. According to hospital sources, the seriously injured are being transferred to the Kurunegala Hospital.
The dead person has been identified as a foreigner who was among several who were in the Kandy bound train. The number of injured persons has risen to over 30 and some foreigners too are included among them. Some 15 critically injured victims have been transferred to the Kurunegala Hospital. There are more passengers trapped among the wreckage and attempts are ongoing to rescue them, say police.
The accident had occurred when a Rambukkana bound train from Colombo had stalled near Alawwa and it was being pushed towards Polgahawela by the Colombo-Kandy Intercity Express. A Polgahawela bound power set from Colombo had arrived on the same track and crashed on to the rear of the Intercity Express, causing severe damage to the Observation Saloon, according to CGR Operations Director Wijaya Samarasinghe.
