TRAIN STUCK INSIDE A TUNNEL AT BALANA

Express train bound to Kandy from Colombo had got stuck within a tunnel in Balana tunnel for 4 hours:

Four hundred (400) passengers in darkness:

The Kandy bound. Colombo express train owing to technical defects had got stuck inside a tunnel at Balana close to Kadugannawa. As a result nearly 400 passengers who had boarded the train had been kept in total darkness for nearly 4 hours. This as reliably learnt from well informed sources.
The express train had left Colombo at 7 a.m, was scheduled to reach Kandy railway station at 9.30 a.m. However on its course it had been encountering technical engine defects. Instead of getting the defects remedied the train had proceeded and has had delays at Veyangoda, Ambepussa, Polgahawela and Alawwa railway stations.
The train with the defects not rectified had ultimately come to a standstill inside the Balana tunnel on a climb a few kilometers from the Kadugannawa railway station. The train had contained 8 carriages and unfortunately all carriages had been within the tunnel keeping the passengers in freight and darkness. All passengers had panicked and the little children had been streaming due to fear owing to the darkness.
The efforts made to rectify the defective engine had proved futile. Some passengers after about 2 hours had got off the train and walked. To the nearest road there was a distance of about 3 kilometers. Hence most of the passengers had opted to remain within the train in darkness. Owing to an electric failure there had been no lights functioning within the express train. They had to remain inside the train until 1.30 p.m.
Although two engines were brought to pull the train the efforts proved futile. However a train that had come from Kandy bound to Colombo was able to push the train backwards. A train that had left Colombo at 8.30 a.m Kandy bound had been successful in transporting the passengers by adding some extra carriages. Ultimately this train was able to transport the stranded passengers to Kandy railway station by 2.45 p.m.