Categories: Headlines

Selfie mania takes 24 lives on rail tracks so far this year

Twenty four youth died from January to October end this year due to careless behaviour on railway tracks.  National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) Media Coordinator Buddhika Prabath said the victims had been attempting to take selfies on the rail track when they were killed by moving trains.

In the absence of last year’s data as regards selfie-related accidents, the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) was however not in a position to compare the situation pertaining to deaths and injuries on railway tracks.

NCRS Media Coordinator  Prabath told The Island that the NCRS lacked the required data for the previous year.

Giving a breakdown of train related accidents within the same period this year, Buddhika said that there had been 61 accidents at level crossings involving trains and vehicles, 348 vehicles had been damaged due to crashing into rail gates at level crossings and 53 cases of people falling off fast moving trains,

The official said 342 accidents had occurred due to walking on rail tracks and crossing them. Of them 151 had died, he added.

Buddika said there had been 84 accidents at level crossings, 506 instances of damage caused due to vehicles crashing into rail gates and 76 falls off trains.

Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – Licence ready, Elon Musk’s Starlink yet to import devices to start operation

Despite Elon Musk's Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, being granted licence to operate in…

12 hours ago

LNP – Two arrested over threatening woman and demanding Rs. 1 mln ransom

The Western Province North Crime Division has arrested two individuals involved in an incident of…

12 hours ago

LNP – ASPI crosses 15,000 points for first time ever

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange recorded a new all-time…

12 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka’s 2025 holiday calendar: Here’s the full list

With just nine days remaining until the start of 2025, the Government Printing Department has…

18 hours ago

LNP – Over 2,000 die in road accidents this year alone

A total of 2,243 people have died in road accidents this year, police said.

18 hours ago

LNP – Special traffic operation from tomorrow

An island-wide traffic operation will be launched tomorrow to inspect passenger buses during the festive…

18 hours ago