Mother-daughter duo struck by “Podi Menike” critical

By Ranjith Rajapakse   

A woman and her daughter were seriously injured when they were hit by the Badulla bound “Podi Menike” express train from Colombo last morning in close proximity to the Nawalapitiya railway station. 

They were admitted to the Nawalapitiya Base Hospital and later transferred in critical condition to the Kandy Teaching Hospital.  

Police said the woman was about 27-years-of-age and her daughter was six. However the authorities were still trying to trace where they were from.   

The engine driver told police that the woman, who had been carrying her child in her arms and standing in the middle of the track, was knocked down by the train which was running at a slow pace as it approached the train station. 

A senior police official said they were trying to ascertain whether it was an accident or a suicide attempt.  

The Nawalapitiya police are conducting further investigations.