On February 19th at around 11:30 p.m. local time, a train collided with a herd of elephants between Minneriya Station and Gal Oya Station, approximately 140 kilometers from Colombo, Sri Lanka. According to local police, at least six elephants were killed, and two others are receiving treatment. No passengers were injured.
The train driver reported that nearly 20 elephants suddenly tried to cross the tracks. "The elephants were only about 10 meters away from us. I applied the emergency brake, but it was too late. At least four elephants were hit," the driver said.
Minneriya National Park, located near the accident site, is known as one of the largest habitats for Asian elephants and is a popular tourist destination. According to the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation, officials from the railway department, police, and wildlife conservation agencies are investigating the cause of the collision.
Viewer Comments:
It’s surprising that the train didn’t derail and that no passengers were injured.
It seems like elephants now have a new enemy.
The power of a train that can kill several elephants at once is incredible but also tragic.
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