Seven Buddhist monks, including a Romanian, lost their lives, and four others were injured in a tragic accident that caused last night near the Na Uyana Monastery in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura.
Seven monks, including a Romanian, dead in a photo funic accident: video capture
The accident took place near the Na Uyana Monastery, about 130 kilometers northeast of Colombo, the country's economic capital. The monks returned to the monastery after participating in a religious ritual held in a place considered sacred, informs the local authorities, quoted by the Sri Lanka press.
Authorities suspect that one of the traction cables of the funicular has broken, and the cabin in which the monks fell empty. Two of the monks managed to jump before the accident and suffered slight injuries, while four others are in serious condition.
The police announced that three foreign citizens include among the deceased: a Romanian, one Russian and an Indian monk. The body of the Indian monk, who lived at the monastery, was transported to Gokarella District Hospital with foreign victims.
The authorities believe that the cable support was broken while the funicular was pulled to the top of the mountain. Pansiyagama police continue the investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident.
