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Colombo, June 1 (Daily Mirror) - A foreign train passenger died this evening after being hit by a tunnel wall while hanging out of the open doorway of a compartment, Sri Lanka Railways General Manager N.J. Indipolage said.
He said the foreign passenger was travelling to Ella by train from Colombo Fort to Badulla.
The accident happened at around 4 p.m. today, Indipolage said.
He said the foreigner died after being hit by tunnel No. 19 between the Nanuoya and Idalgashinna railway stations.
The Railway Department has requested a report regarding the accident.
According to the Railways Act., commuters are advised to stay within the train carriage while the train is moving.
He said that there have been fatal accidents reported earlier when visitors have hung out of the open doorways or windows of trains.
Jason Monday, 03 June 2024 08:35 PM
What these foreigners are prohibited from doing in their home countries they do it here.
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Ratnapala Tuesday, 04 June 2024 03:34 AM
What that clearly demonstrates is type of "Trash White" we let into this country as tourists and bleat from top of the mountain as TOURISIM. In reality most of these hardly stay in designated three to five star hotel. They seek less than desirable shelters and spread all forms of exotic disease to the locals.
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Spartacus Tuesday, 04 June 2024 06:36 AM
They cannot do this in their home countries because their train doors are safely closed when train begins moving unlike the primitivity here.
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Nimal 1 Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:27 AM
Of course in western countries the trains will not move an inch until all doors are firmly shut. These visitors are thrilled to find that they can travel in trains in Sri Lanka with their bodies jutting dangerously out of the doors. However, our people are very well experienced in this type of activity and are well aware of the risks. Unfortunately, these visitors are not.
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Seraman Friday, 07 June 2024 03:11 PM
It's the sri lankan railways responsibility to orotect tourist safety. SL railway should have stablished precautionary measures for tourist even locals when they travel in the narrow and bumpy trains heading to upcountry. Sl govt must pay compensation to the victim and take precautionary measures to avoid such accidents.
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M Fernando Monday, 03 June 2024 08:54 PM
Now THERE's one for the government-sponsored Influencers to publicise !
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Denis Collina Wednesday, 05 June 2024 12:07 AM
Accidents can happen to everyone at anytime… however, we are facing a hit wave of stupidity all around the world since and sometimes life is teaching in the hard way. Welcome to the world. Might pay a bit more attention next life. We all were young and stupid back in our country… and we also have dangerous things if done with stupidity, but this is a big lack of using brain. I see many tourists driving scooters in 3 people and/or without helmet, speeding close to town centres and driving with total ignorance of the danger. Condolences and good luck to the family that have to deal with the death of their son.
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Iwazaru Monday, 03 June 2024 09:03 PM
He deserves it. I have seen these donkey bed tourist travelling 3rd class and hanging out like monkeys on the footboards. The railway authorities are lacks in enforcing the rules. It is time Sri Lanka include automation doors for all trains in future procurement which can be only operated by the engine driver or the guard.
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Onlooker Tuesday, 04 June 2024 03:22 AM
Not that the railway authorities are lacking in enforcing the rules as rules are there to be complied with and only take punitive action if otherwise. Even in any country, rules and laws are regularly broken.
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Joshua Monday, 03 June 2024 09:06 PM
As per SL laws should arrest the person who built the tunnel
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Mahila Tuesday, 04 June 2024 06:56 AM
Joshua, whilst agreeing with you on our Laws and Implementation, may go one step further to hold, the Ruler, whose time these tunnels were built, for not allowing sufficient space either side of "Tunnel and Track" for the frolicking Tourists and Locals to dance and extend their 'BODY
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Arrest all of then Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:03 AM
And the locomotive pilot and the one who issued the ticket. LOL.
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Lawry Monday, 03 June 2024 10:51 PM
Such idiotic behaviour must be stopped. Impose huge fines for offenders.
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Jeanne Tuesday, 04 June 2024 04:32 AM
@Lawry .... I think the ultimate fine is the offenders' deaths which is so sad. Stupidity cannot be "fined".
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Spartacus Tuesday, 04 June 2024 06:38 AM
First impose the fine on the Railway system for not having doors that close when the train is moving.
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Nalin Gunasekera Wednesday, 05 June 2024 08:36 AM
The offender should be fined and in this case with the offender being dead, the deceased person's estate should pay the fine. The GOSL should make the claim overseas engaging a legal team of GOSL cronies with overseas trips in business class and 5 star hotels
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time to upgrade all our public transport, one ANURA/NPP come into power, with the trillions confiscated from the corrupt scum that have been in govt past 2-3 decades, including public service corrupt Monday, 03 June 2024 11:15 PM
Jason, you are absolutely wrong we are a poor under developed country with all the corruption that has gone on from many many decades ago the country and its people have suffered as a result. ALL developed countries have automatic doors that open and close and alarm bells to notify the driver and main control station who in turns notifies the next station. So do not put the blame on the Tourist that died, he was simply following our idiotic passengers who have been hanging out of trains. Time to have inspectors on trains to ck passengers behaviour and tickets, heavy fines should be given too, like in most other countries.
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Mano Monday, 03 June 2024 11:33 PM
The railway coaches must have automated doors. At least the the up county trains.
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Nihal S Tuesday, 04 June 2024 12:05 AM
All train doors should be shut for health
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Banda Tuesday, 04 June 2024 12:38 AM
RIP for him. The Ministry of Transport must impose new regulations to avoid this unfortunate incident. They come here to have a good time. But they die here for nothing. What a disgrace. This is not the first and this is not going to be the last. Ban all doorstep traveling with strict regulations. When you get trains next time don't bring doors that you cannot operate on your own while traveling.
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Ranasinghe S Tuesday, 04 June 2024 04:00 AM
This is the problem in Sri Lanka, there is no safety net. There must be warning(notices) about safe travel and what is not safe.
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mina Tuesday, 04 June 2024 04:50 AM
Very sad, They come here to see the beauty of the country and die here due to their bad and ignorant behavior.Railway department should introduce a method to stop this.
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Gen Tuesday, 04 June 2024 05:10 AM
To Mr time to upgrade all our public transport, one ANURA/NPP come into power, Maybe your NPP/JVP should start with giving back the money and gold looted from state banks in 88/89.
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Ram Tuesday, 04 June 2024 05:19 AM
At least the long distance trains make the doors lockable when leaving a station to be unlocked at the next station. Think about the future import the new compartments with this function
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Anbera Tuesday, 04 June 2024 07:33 AM
After sudda left the country, only thing changed in railway is a Digital Clock.
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CitizenP Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:13 AM
All doors in trains should be closed when the train is moving . No one is allowed to come out from windows and doors.
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S.K Kumara Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:21 AM
Automated doors ? First let's have a train compartment with proper sewage tanks. Do these tourists know the railroads they walked on and sit down for that perfect selfie is contaminated with urine and perhaps someones breakfast ?
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Terrence K Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:41 AM
Our local commuters are setting a bad example by travelling on the footboards of trains. Deterrent punishment should be enforce for footboard travellers and this phenomenon is due to the Railway Authorities turning a blind eye to this type of travel. Anadvertising program should be initiated to have boards depicted in all carriages that travelling on footboards is a punishable offence and heavy fines should be clearly advertised. Also have the security to be in charge of this program because they travel in these trains not only for 2nd class compartment but for 3rd class compartments as well etc.
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Inshi Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:01 AM
A PA system installed in every carriage with a warning of caution coming from the engine driver or assistant to get inside when approaching tunnels will help prevent such tragedies. Common sense also applies.
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Cecil Hedwige Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:11 AM
The railway Dept should intrduce new trains with doors which automatically close while moving like railways in other countries all over the world.Sri lankan railway is ancient and good for nothing compared to the advancement of railways in other countries.
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Asitha Dissanayake Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:15 AM
There should be warnings inside the train
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sacre blieu Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:24 AM
very sad and regretful. This,by the way those who were prone to daring on such a journey should have realised what they were exposing them to such an unfortunate eventuality. There were several warnings and concerns expressed by many on such carelessness.
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Dee Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:35 AM
This is a very dangerous trend. Hyped up by social media (just like the deadly tuk!) a work colleague almost broke his neck by trying to mimic it in a restaurant by hanging on a door handle(which suddenly was opened). My response was- go ahead! If you feel suicidal.
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Ron Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:55 AM
Our duty of care shiuld be a priority for all passengers we simply cant pick and choose if safty measures are taken in the first place lives can be served specialy in hill district far toomany accidents are experiencing lately ...safty should be a priority for all passengers
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Mohamed Adham Tuesday, 04 June 2024 10:40 AM
Yes, some remedy must be taken. But, also take care of the Train Toilets. They are in an awful state.
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Chris Fernando Wednesday, 05 June 2024 07:56 PM
YES our train toilets (and everywhere else too) are a Disgrace, showing our low hygiene standards. AND A FEMALE TOURIST HANGING OUT OF THE TRAIN, once featured in a Tourist board Tourist ADVERT ON TV.
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Ranjan Tuesday, 04 June 2024 11:14 AM
This is a real tragedy. The railway department should take the responsibility. There must be an act but It should be clearly displayed for passengers information. I have noticed that most of the trains the doors are widely open and you can't shut them properly. The other major safety concern is that the gap between the station platform and the door step there is a big gap. Elderly people are finding very difficult to getting and get out of the train. Next time we will hear a passenger has been injured or died while getting down from the train . These are the things that the government should look into it. Their prime concern should be to protect the public
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Andrew Dias Tuesday, 04 June 2024 11:35 AM
Did the tunnel hit the tourist or did the tourist hit the tunnel?
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Imtias Tuesday, 04 June 2024 11:36 AM
I see one persons stupidity takes his own life and not a single constructive comment. Age known and spoken issues are boldly written by pundits forgetting that we are a developing country.
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tourism dollars Tuesday, 04 June 2024 11:51 AM
When the British built the railway it was only meant to transport tea to Colombo Port to be shipped to various parts of the world. Later it was found that it could be used to transport cattle and human beings too and was never meant to be a tourist attraction for tourists to have a jolly ride on the foot board of the train.
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Dee Tuesday, 04 June 2024 03:52 PM
No much difference between cattle and humans. Cattle much better!
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Train hanger Tuesday, 04 June 2024 02:53 PM
Maybe someone can post the movie on Social Media. Now we see 400 movies every day where the ladies with hats and long dresses hang out of the doors of the train and everyone likes it. Maybe the government can show what can happen. But anyway these people have no sense at all and do this to get some followers and likes. Because that is very important in life in 2024.
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Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 04 June 2024 06:25 PM
I think there should be warnings placed at doors and some alerts of upcoming narrow spaces , bridges , so that those thrill seekers are being made aware of the dangers of hanging out of trains. Locked doors are preferable but you need newer trains for that purpose. Railway should also issue a disclaimer of liabilities if anyone hangs out of the doors while tge trains are in transit. It should be made clear that any damage to the train , losses due to delays should be the responsibility of offenders. Other than that there is nothing much to do about it. Fines are not effective, it is an avenue for fraud by the inspectors.
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