2011 Alawwa rail accident

The 2011 Alawwa rail accident, occurred on the evening of Saturday 17 September 2011, when a passenger train, Sri Lanka Railways S11, drove into an observation car at the back of a stationary Intercity Express train near the Alawwa railway station, approximately 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Colombo.[1] The accident resulted in the death of five people, including a French national, a Thai Buddhist monk and the train driver, with over 30 injured. The Intercity Express had been pushing a Rambukkana-bound train from Colombo, which had stalled near Alawwa. The accident may have been caused by human error, and the S11 train ran into the observation car at the end of the other train.[2]

2011 Alawwa rail accident
Details
Date17 September 2011 (2011-09-17)
LocationAlawwa
CountrySri Lanka
OperatorSri Lanka Railways
Incident typeRear-end collision
CauseHuman error
Statistics
Trains2
Deaths5
Injured30+
DamageRs.75 million

Investigation

A three-member committee, comprising Nimal Dissanayake, retired Appeal Court judge, Sanath Panawella, Director Arthur C. Clarke Centre and Sarath Perera, retired Deputy Inspector General Police, undertook an inquiry into the accident in October.[3] The Committee's conclusion was the accidents was a result of high speed and failure by the train driver to observe the rail signals. The committee recommended several solutions including re-positioning of the signal system, maintaining a proper coloured light warning system and improving communication among drivers, control room staff and station masters.[4]

The Ministry of Transport indicated the estimated damages resulting from the train accident as being over Rs.75 million.[3] Compensation was paid to the families of those killed, and to the injured.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Three killed in Sri Lanka train crash". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. "Death toll in Alawwa train accident rises to 5". Adaderana.lk. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. "Alawwa train accident report to be handed over". The Daily Mirror. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. Range, Irangika (2 November 2011). "Engine driver faulted by committee". The Daily News. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. Perera, Akitha (18 September 2011). "Compensation for victims of Alawwa train collision". The Island. Retrieved 20 June 2020.


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