Pothuhera accident: Photo / video memory

 

Only a few attended to the injured ....
what was done was videoing the accident from mobile phones
                                     -- Dr. Padeniya

The most modern tendency when some accident happens in Sri Lanka is more than thinking of helping the injured, it is to video the scene for the purpose of retaining it as a souvenir.

The facility of instant videoing and photographing was afforded to most people in recent years when the mobile phone became a common commodity in the hands of the public. While the video clip or photographs so taken becomes a souvenir to most people, other than the remark, "Look here ....


I also was there at that time," they hope for nothing better. It is very rarely that one contemplates at least of reporting that information to the media, making use of it with the video and photos of the incident.

One of the passengers travelling in the train that was subjected to the accident yesterday at Pothuhera was the Chairman of the Medical Association, Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya. Though people in the area hastened to hospitalize the casualties as soon as the accident took place, he had noticed how another crowd had started videoing the accident with cameras of their mobile phones which were in their hands.  He later described this pathetic situation in this manner:
                                                                                                                                                         "I work as the Acting Head of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Raja Rata. Early morning yesterday I and Mr. Gayan Ekanayaka also were travelling in this train. At Pothuhera there was a sudden noise of a blast heard from two compartments .... being thrown up. We also felt like being thrown up. But we both didn't face any injury. Several passengers were thrown on the ground here and there. After this accident they were trying to get on their feet. Very funny people .... at a time when an accident like this happens .... instead of doing what has to be done .... what an unkind thing to engage in videoing!"