10 Children Killed as Bus Collides With Train at Koggala Railway Crossing

COLOMBO (News 1st): Ten children have died after a bus collided with a train at the Koggala railway crossing.

Police said the accident occurred when the bus crossed the railway line despite the warning signals being activated.

The children, aged between 14 and 15, were admitted to Unawatuna and Karapitiya hospitals.

The victims are from a group of students attending tuition classes who had travelled from Kottawa to visit the Martin Wickramasinghe Memorial Museum in Koggala. 

The group was returning from the excursion when the accident occurred.

A total of 61 people were on board the bus, including 41 students, 14 teachers and six parents.

The bus collided with a train travelling from Beliatta to Maradana, which had departed Beliatta Railway Station at 12:50 p.m.

Police said the 40-year-old bus driver and the 21-year-old assistant have been arrested in connection with the accident.