Tourists lean out from train doors for selfies, number of accidents keep rising

• Hotels, tour guides and travel agencies urged to educate visitors on such dangers 

By Shantha Chandrasiri   

The number of accidents involving tourists engaging in unsafe behaviour on the upcountry mainline trains has been on the rise, prompting calls for stricter safety measures and greater awareness.   

According to a senior official from the Railways Department, foreign tourists often lean out of train doors, hold onto footboard handles, and take selfies, oblivious to the risks. These behaviours, popularised by social media trends, have led to a series of tragic incidents this year.   

In a recent case, an Iranian woman sustained critical head injuries after striking a tunnel while attempting to take a selfie near Ohiya and Idalgashinna. She was rushed to the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital and remains in critical condition.   

Other incidents include a tourist who fell off a footboard and suffered severe injuries, and another who tragically lost his life.  

Several similar accidents have been reported this year, with many raising concerns about the lack of preventive measures.   

“It is the responsibility of tourist guides, hotel management, and travel agencies to educate visitors about the dangers of unsafe practices on trains,” the official said.   

Stakeholders are being urged to implement immediate measures to address the issue. Recommendations include launching safety awareness campaigns, making onboard safety announcements in multiple languages, increasing supervision on popular routes, and modifying train designs to restrict access to footboards.