The Department of Railways announced plans to increase passenger awareness regarding travel-related safety, following two recent incidents where serious injuries were sustained while attempting to take selfies on trains. The department however noted that it has not made any decision to prohibit taking selfies during train journeys.
The incidents, both of which occurred on the Badulla-bound trains, have raised concerns about passenger safety. In the first case, a 61-year-old Korean tourist was severely injured while travelling on the Udarata Menike express. As the train approached the Haputale Railway Station, he stood on the footboard and attempted to take a selfie, colliding with an iron post along the railway line. He was initially admitted to the Diyatalawa Base Hospital before being transferred to the Badulla Teaching Hospital in a critical condition.
In a separate incident, a young woman from Rathgama was seriously injured while travelling to Ella on the night-mail train. After disembarking at the Haputale Station to take a selfie, she fell while attempting to re-board the train as it started to move. The woman sustained severe injuries to her lower limbs and was immediately hospitalised.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), Railways Deputy General Manager N.J. Indipolage stated that the Department is actively raising awareness through announcements at railway stations.
“We have continuously advised passengers not to engage in risky behaviour while travelling,” he said. Indipolage added that railway staff and security officers have been instructed to be vigilant and to guide passengers on safety measures if they observe any dangerous actions.
Indipolage also mentioned ongoing discussions with the Tourism Police to explore additional steps for preventing accidents. “We are working on a programme to provide leaflets to tourists, detailing the potential risks and accidents. However, we are yet to find a sponsor for this initiative,” he noted.
When questioned about a potential ban on taking selfies, Indipolage clarified that such a prohibition is currently not necessary. “At this moment, there is no decision to prohibit taking selfies. We believe that awareness and guidance will be more effective in ensuring safety,” he concluded.