Three jumbos killed by train collision

18 September 2018 08:29 am - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Three elephants were killed after a herd was hit by the Batticaloa bound train early this morning while the elephants were walking across the tracks, the Wildlife Conservation Department said.

The officials said the elephants were knocked down by the train with oil tank wagons at about 4.30 a.m at the 127-milepost between the Habarana and Palugaswewa Railway Stations.

One she-elephants was pregnant at the time of the accident and the fetus had come out following the impact.

Meanwhile, the Railway Control Room said the train engine and two oil tank wagons derailed and one tank wagon had developed a leak.

“The railway track was also damaged. After the repairs of the railway track, the train services will back to normal by this evening,” the Control Room said.

“Until then services had been limited up to Maho and Gal Oya Stations.

The Habarana Police and Railways Department are conducting investigations. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Video by Susantha, Kanchana Kumara

Pix by K.G. Karunarathne

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Comments - 26

Lafir Tuesday, 18 September 2018 09:35 AM

Build an elevated railway network across these vulnerable areas so that trains could go faster and you could save the jumbos as well.

mendis Wednesday, 19 September 2018 09:36 AM

good idea

Blair Tuesday, 18 September 2018 09:42 AM

VERY PATHETIC. AUTHORITIES ACT FAST TO FIND A SOLUTION.

Sanju Tuesday, 18 September 2018 09:47 AM

What a horrendous tragedy! I hope the engine driver gets the most severe punishment.To cause such extreme damage he must have been doing well over the permitted speed limit. We can only hope the driver was tested for alcohol. And example must be set for all engine drivers on this line. What an unnecessary disaster.

Observer Tuesday, 18 September 2018 09:55 AM

Surely the train crew must have been sleeping. This is utter carelessness.

rohanabey Tuesday, 18 September 2018 10:12 AM

Yakada Yaka killing jumbos. Pathetic

Sharon Tuesday, 18 September 2018 10:52 AM

What a tragedy. Very sad sight. Only good thing is, it was not a passenger train...

Unchikun Tuesday, 18 September 2018 10:55 AM

From the damage , it as apparent the driver and assistant driver was sleeping. Sack them. Sign the ECTA and get drivers and guards from India. See the damage to the rolling stock and the animals. Get it from the train crew.

Ceylon Tuesday, 18 September 2018 11:03 AM

Lanka is now too small for elephants to live.people expanding their territories for living and cultivation.locate them to africa otherwise in next 20 years time no more elephants in lanka.

Jaliya Tuesday, 18 September 2018 11:09 AM

In civilized countries the freight trains will travel at much lower speeds. When passing wilderness areas they will stop the movement of the train until the path is clear. These morons without any brains causing destruction not only to elephants but to the forestry all together by spilling out the toxic petroleum in to the wilderness.

ram Tuesday, 18 September 2018 11:13 AM

How a sad situation.CGR should think of introducing a pilot vehicle fitted with camera, lights, horns etc which can travel in front of the train in the distance of 500 m to 1000 m according to the speed of train controlled by the train by Bluetooth, WiFi or any other wireless communication. This will clear all obstruction in front including unprotected railway crossings, animals etc.

Dinesh Tuesday, 18 September 2018 12:30 PM

When will this carnage end? If these fellows had votes maybe they would have a chance. Why are the trains driving so fast? Why is there still no proper plan to protect these national treasures?

Dutchy Tuesday, 18 September 2018 12:30 PM

These innocent animals should be protected by the govt to send a message that sri lanka is a civilized country

asiri Tuesday, 18 September 2018 12:31 PM

Everyday elephant hits with train. No precaution... Country will endup without elephants.. Where is technical device fitted with engine?

Eranga Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:55 PM

The commission amount did not work out properly that satisfy the minister.

Jesica Tuesday, 18 September 2018 12:34 PM

Sad to read. Surely there is something we can do to prevent it.

uditha Tuesday, 18 September 2018 01:04 PM

We are all taking of miles electric fences.........why can't the authorities confine the railway line between two electrical fences in this vulnerable stretch and have a proper under-crossing for elephants to pass..........we have become a set of reporters after an incident without any proactive solutions????

Waco Tuesday, 18 September 2018 01:16 PM

It is high time to erecting fences on either side of the Rail Tracks all over for safety of every one.

Abc Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:09 PM

I am saddened and sick off any government failing this kind of disasters.Any other country will deem these creatures as a treasure. If the rulers incapable of solving such an issue, not sure how they solve prominent pressing issues in the country.

Sumal Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:16 PM

Responsibility of wildlife department. They have no proper plan to keep animals in designated areas so they roam all over.

Jaliya Tuesday, 18 September 2018 07:53 PM

Don't always point your finger at the wild life authority. Elephants are walkers. These trains are a death trap to many of the wild life. These rail roads are constructed through the wilderness and the speed limit shall be limited to 25Km/Hr in these areas with clear yellow reflective signs posted as “ELEPHANT CROSSING 25Km” facing both sides of the rail track. These folly train drivers has no speed limits or respect towards a living creature. Many developed and civilized countries the trains has much slower speed limits when traveling through the areas of wilderness. Combining a slower speed with an infrared forward looking camera attached to the front of the engine can warn the driver of hazard ahead.

Roman Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:34 PM

Researchers in Japan have fitted a train with a speaker that barks like a dog and snorts like a deer in order to prevent collisions on the railway, the combination of sounds is designed to scare deer away from the tracks in a bid to reduce the number of animal deaths on the railway.Likewise according to the scientists Elephants are scared of bees. Elephants flee the sound of angry bees, with the vast majority turning to run within seconds of hearing the sound of buzzing. May be we should take a leaf out of the japs book and make use of the technology to prevent such collisions.

Alimankada Sita Tuesday, 18 September 2018 02:35 PM

Truly this land is cursed because it is horrid to its own animals.

pruthu Fernando Tuesday, 18 September 2018 03:54 PM

The problem is no one wants to spend the time and energy to solve it and instead think fixing a gadget on the train is a solution, which it is not. One needs to track the elephants with GPS collars, find out where they cross tracks and either have underpasses for them or have the trains go slow at those places.

Chari Tuesday, 18 September 2018 04:47 PM

Charge the Drivers under the FFPO. Do not be afraid as normal People are taken to task. Let them strike if they want. Do not care.Over to DG, DWLC.

patriot Tuesday, 18 September 2018 05:43 PM

Can't we make wide and deep culverts or tunnels underneath the railway line where these elephants frequently cross the railway. Also can build a strong fence where those wide and deep culverts are built. This will courage elephants to use underneath tunnels rather than crossing over the railway line.

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Three jumbos killed by train collision

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