The Hindu : International : 1,000 killed as tsunami hits train

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

International

International

1,000 killed as tsunami hits train

GALLE (SRI LANKA), DEC. 28. The massive tidal waves that slammed into Sri Lanka flung a train off its tracks leaving its 1,000 passengers dead or missing, police said on Tuesday, while rescuers uncovered thousands of bodies across the country, bringing the island nation's toll to 18,706.

Rescuers recovered 204 bodies from the train's eight carriages, which were little more than twisted metal, and cremated or buried them next to the railroad track that runs along the coastline, said the military spokesman, Brig. Daya Ratnayake.

``A mass burial was held today,'' he said. The train — named ``Samudradevi'' meaning Queen of the Sea — was travelling from Colombo to Galle on Sunday when it was hit by the killer waves.

Buddhist priests held prayers for the dead as the bodies were cremated. For Muslim victims, a mass grave was dug with the help of a bulldozer.

Guards survive

Among those killed was the locomotive driver and his helper. But the two guards of the train, who travel in the last carriage, survived, according to a railroad official. He said some passengers also survived, but he said he did not know how many.

— AP

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