3RD LEAD:

Train hits bus: Death toll reaches 49

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 April 2005, 04:07 GMT]
27 mutilated bodies were recovered from the wreckage of the train collision that occured with a bus east of Colombo Wednesday morning around 8.30 AM, Hospital sources in Colombo said. 22 died on admission to hospitals in Colombo, Kurunagela and Polgahawela. The accident took place at a railway crossing between Polgahawela and Alawwa. 10 of 45 wounded persons were brought to Colombo Hospital.

A speeding train on the Colombo Kandy line hit the bus, smashing the vehicle. Police said the driver of the bus had tried to cross the railway tracks after the barrier was closed.

Sources from Colombo said, the driver of the bus was arrested later while receiving treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries sustained during the crash.