Committee to probe Alawwa tragedy
Disna MUDALIGE
Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that the loss incurred from
the train accident at Alawwa station was estimated to be about Rs 75
million. The minister has appointed a special committee to find out the
reason behind Saturday’s accident.
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Three died and 35 injured in the accident |
The minister observed that the exact reason for the accident cannot
be decided yet. He said that special attention will be paid to the
operation of control room and signalling systems at the time of the
accident. He said that the mistakes of the engine drivers and the
conduct of the station master will also be probed.
Welgama made this observation when he visited the Alawwa station to
inspect the accident. He also visited the injured commuters at the
Alawwa and Kurunegala hospitals. A foreign national, a train driver and
an assistant to the train driver succumbed to their injuries while 35
persons were injured in the accident.
The minister said that he will take strict disciplinary action if the
cause of the accident was due to negligence. |
