Colombo Sri Lanka /
A train carrying hundreds of liters of fuel rammed into a herd of wild elephants in the northeast Sri Lanka, killing two of the gigantic mammals and injuring another when two of its tank cars derailed, authorities reported.
The collision occurred in the town of Minneriya, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Colombo, the capital, which It is famous for its natural park and its wildlife.
The train driver said that on Friday, suddenly, the herd of some 20 elephants tried to cross the tracks.
“There was about 10 meters (32 feet) between us. Therefore, we couldn’t do anything. We applied the brakes to their maximum capacity, but there was not much we could do. At least four elephants were brought down,” NW Jayalath said.
The train had eight tank cars, five of which carried diesel and three others carried oil, each with a capacity of 50,000 liters, Jayalath said. Two of the oil cars derailed, causing a major leak and severely damaging the tracks, forcing authorities to suspend rail services on that line, he added.
The train compartment in which the driver was traveling also derailed. Two other railway workers were also on board.in addition to the driver. No one was injured.
“This is the first time I have seen this kind of incident,” said Minneriya resident VJ Jackson. “We came when we heard the honking of the train and the screeching of the elephants. “We saw the elephants lying everywhere and the train derailed.”
Hasini Sarathchandra, publicity officer of the wildlife department said that the two elephants died on the spot, while the one He was injured, treated, and released back to his pack.
Minneriya National Park attracts thousands of tourists every year, who come in the hope of seeing elephants in their natural habitats. It is part of the “elephant corridor that links the Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National Parkswhich allow elephant observation all year round.
LG
