35 killed in Sri Lanka railroad tragedy
[April 27, 2005 - 10.00 GMT]

A passenger train and a packed bus collided on a railway crossing this morning killing at least 35 people and injuring 40 others. The collision was so hard the bus burst into flames hampering rescue activities. The train was bound for the hill capital of Kandy from Colombo when the crash happened.

The accident occurred at 8:35 a.m. (2:35 a.m. GMT) Wednesday about 50 miles north of the capital, Colombo, along the Colombo-Kandy rail line. President Kumaratunga has directed the Transport Minister to look into the immediate needs of the bereaved families.

“We have immediately informed services to help the victims, and have sent a team to the location as well to see what can be done," Transport Minister Felix Perera told a local television station. 

"Right now what we can do is not to think of the train but to think of the lives of the injured passengers and the dead. Now we are concentrating on what can be done to help the victims."

During December's tsunami, Sri Lanka suffered what is thought to be the world's worst rail disaster.

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Last Updated Date: April 27, 2005 - 10.00 GMT