The prompt action of a railway gate operator at a railway crossing in the Maharagama area had averted a major accident, officials said.
A 40-year-old jackfruit tree had fallen on the railway track on Saturday morning (7) about 800 metres from the Maharagama railway station, towards Kottawa.
As soon as he heard about the jackfruit tree falling on the railway track, the railway gate operator had started running towards the Avissawella side of the rail track as he knew that a train from Avissawella to Colombo was due to pass the area in about three minutes.
After running for about 200 metres, he had been able to stop the oncoming train averting a major accident.
The railway gate operator Udaya Siri speaking about the incident said, “The 7.45 am train had passed the area and the next one was from Avissawella to Colombo which was scheduled to arrive at 8.02 am at our railway crossing.
Two or three minutes later, there was a loud noise. When I looked, a big jackfruit tree in the adjacent garden had fallen on the railway track. I couldn’t figure out what to do, so I immediately ran towards the direction of the train. I think I must have run about 200 metres.
Then I saw the train approaching. I raised both my hands and shouted the driver to stop. Fortunately, he was able to stop the train. At the same time, I informed the station about this over the phone. Otherwise, there would have been a big accident.”
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