Batticaloa-Colombo train derails near Eravur

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 April 2003, 01:50 GMT]
No passengers were injured when three carriages of the Colombo bound night train that departed Batticaloa railway station Saturday night derailed near Eravur, said Batticaloa station chief A. Sivanesarajah. This was the same train that made the maiden journey from Colombo to Batticaloa carrying the Minister of Transportation, Minister Upali Piyasoma, and reached Batticaloa station Saturday 2.45pm.

Inspectors who examined the tracks speculated that there may have been inadequate number of sleepers installed in that section of the track and that the tracks may not have been properly laid.

Sources close to the restoration of the new stretch of tracks from Valaichenai to Batticaloa said that new sleepers destined for installation in this stretch were diverted to Maho area and that old material were used in the hurried repair to the Valaichenai-Batticaloa section.

Railway officials said that the service between Valaichenai and Batticaloa will not be resumed until the tracks are properly repaired, and that services between Colombo and Valachenai will continue normally.