Two jumbos knocked down to death by fuel carriage train

By Rohana Chandradasa and Nimal Jayaratne

October 18  - In another wildlife tragedy, two wild elephants died after being knocked down by the Batticaloa-bound fuel carriage train between Gal Oya and Hingurakgoda Railway Stations during the wee hours of today In the accident, two other elephants were injured.

A herd of wild elephants crossing the railway line at Rotawewa in Minneriya between Gal Oya and Hingurakgoda Railway Stations met with this accident.

A senior official of the Anuradhapura Railway Operation Superintendent’s office said the railway line had been extensively damaged, bringing the train service between Gal Oya and Batticaloa to a standstill. He said immediate steps were taken to effect repairs to the railway line.

The train was transporting a stock of 11,000 gallons of diesel and petrol from the Kolonnawa Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Storage complex to Batticaloa when it met with the accident.

Minneriya Police conducting investigations said seven tanks contained diesel and four petrol and that two of the tanks transporting petrel had derailed and toppled, causing a huge leak of petrol.

OI|C Minneriya Police CI Duminda Fernando said the train crew comprised four employees including the driver, but none of them had been hurt. The driver said the herd crossed the railway line about 15 metres ahead of the train, and it was not possible to stop the train.

A police team from Minneriya and Habarana Police had been deployed on guard at the scene.