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Rail disaster

by Ranil Wijayapala and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Thirteen passengers were killed and more than 150 injured when the Colombo bound Intercity was derailed at Girivelpitiya between Rambukkana and Kadigamuwa on the Main Line yesterday morning.

Five compartments plunged into a paddy field just one kilometre ahead of the Rambukkana railway station. Railway Authorities investigating the disaster, said it was one of the most serious in recent times.

Initially 149 injured were admitted to Kegalle Hospital and later transferred, 17 to the Kandy Hospital. Another 12 injured were sent to Peradeniya and five to the Colombo National Hospital (CNH).

Three foreigners were among the injured, unconfirmed reports added.

Of the five transferred to the CNH, one succumbed to injuries on admission while another just after admission. Both were males, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Deputy Director of the CNH, said.

"The injured include a mother and her eight year old child. They have sustained severe injuries," added Dr. Jasinghe.

Seven bodies were lying at the Kegalle Hospital. Among them were three women, one man and three young girls. The bodies of the two men are at the Rambukkana Hospital, health sources said.

The train had left Kandy railway station at 6.30 am. Tickets have been issued to 189 passengers at the Kandy railway station, according to Railway officials.

According to initial reports the train was driven fast and ran off the lines due to a defect in the brake system. Nearly 250 m of the track was torn off the sleepers, Police said.

Six of the seven compartments were severely damaged. The engine of the train remained intact on the track.

Railway workers, Police Officers and villagers rushed to rescue the passengers who were trapped in the compartments. They were dispatched to hospitals in Rambukkana, Kegalle, Peradeniya, Kandy and Colombo National Hospital.

State Transport Minister Piyasoma Upali rushed to the scene to overlook rescue operations.

Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation Minister Tilak Marapone who visited the scene at Rambukkana has directed to appoint a one member committee to probe into the incident, State Transport Minister Piyasoma Upali said yesterday. A retired judge will comprise the committee.

He said arrangements had been made to pay Rs. 10,000 for each person killed in the unfortunate incident as funeral expenses. He said the relevant railway authorities were supervising the repair of damaged track in order to resume normal train services on the Main Line by this morning.

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