Over 60 injured in train accident

Thursday, 1 May 2014 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Over 60 passengers were injured in a train accident at Pothuhera, Kurunegala yesterday whilst the incident also forced a disruption of some of the services.

The Vavuniya and Palai bound Intercity Express train from Colombo collided head-on with the Matara bound Rajarata Regina express, which had been halted on the main platform at the Pothuhera Railway Station. Both engines had been smashed and several compartments had toppled. One of the compartments had fallen into a paddy field near by the railway line. Four of the injured were in serious condition, hospital sources said. According to the Police, there were 45 women, 25 men, four boys and two girls among the injured. The injured were admitted to the Kurunegala and Polgahawela Hospitals, while four of them were treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Kurunegala Hospital. Trains from the north to Colombo have been stopped at Kurunegala and trains leaving Colombo to the north have been stopped at Polgahawela, the Railway Control Room said. Arrangements have been made to transport the Colombo-bound passengers from Kurunegala by bus. Authorities are investigating the accident.