No trains to Badulla till Saturday

Train services on the Badulla-Colombo line, which was interrupted due to landslides, will resume within two days, the Railways Department said today.

“We may be able to clear the railway track and bring back normal services by Saturday. The trains will operate up to Bandarawela and Nanu Oya from Colombo Fort till then,” Operations Superintendent C.A.R. Ratnayaka said.

The rail service on the Badulla-Colombo line came to a standstill due to a landslide between Demodara and Uduwara at the 280th km post on Tuesday night.

 “The huge rocks were drilled yesterday and we are hoping to detonate them today. Toppling or the detonation of rocks should be done in a safe manner as several houses are placed downhill,” Mr. Ratnayaka said.

He said three trains were stuck in the Badulla station. “The ‘Udarata Menike’ will operate up to Badulla, ‘Podi Menike’ and another train will operate up to Nanu Oya while the night-mail train is operating up to Bandarawela. (Chaturanga Pradeep)