Train accidents have repeatedly occurred in various parts of the world, the latest being in India which has so far claimed the lives of more than 280 people. Well, the worst train accident in history apparently happened in Sri Lanka in 2004.
This disaster is considered the largest based on the number of casualties, with around 1,700 deaths. That happened when a crowded passenger train, the Samudradevi or Queen of the Sea, was destroyed by the tsunami from the earthquake in Aceh, December 26, 2004. The tsunami from Aceh reached as far as Sri Lanka.
The Queen of The Sea Line was destroyed by two tsunami waves along the southwest coastal railway line near Telwatta, Sri Lanka. Passengers in eight carriages died.
At the time of the tragedy, this car was traveling from Colombo to Galle and was approaching its destination. The car was packed even by Sri Lankan standards, as it was a holiday weekend and there was a Buddhist festival so people were visiting relatives.
Without warning, two hours after leaving Colombo, most of the passengers of the train lost their lives. A gigantic wave from the sea crashed through the trees and threw the carriage off the rails, where it immediately filled with water.
Most of the windows in two carriages appeared to be open and one of the windows was broken, Maybe it was the result of desperate passengers breaking it to try to save themselves. But we were quoted from the Guardian, they only have a small chance of being hit by a tsunami wall of water at least six meters high.
The Queen of the Sea tragedy became the worst train accident in the world, surpassing the death toll of around 800 people who died when a typhoon destroyed a train in Bihar, India, in 1981. In December 2008, after being restored, the Queen of The Sea train finally back in operation on Sri Lanka's coastline.