Sri Lankan train derails after killing 6 elephants

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Six elephants died after colliding with a train in Sri Lanka, causing derailment and disruptions in travel, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred before dawn on Sri Lanka's Batticaloa railway line, on the eastern part of the island, causing major delays in train services, Newswire reported.

No injuries to passengers were reported when the train derailed after hitting the elephants while traveling near a wildlife reserve at Habarana, some 180 kilometers (111.8 miles) east of the capital, Colombo.

The Sri Lankan Railway Department confirmed the collision has disrupted operations, and efforts are being made to restore normal services.