Friday morning
Boxing Day
In the year 2014
at almost 6:50am
packed to capacity
she slithered smoothly
out of Maradana
dressed in pale blue
pulled by a Class M2a
#591 Manitoba
announcing her departure
with a hoot or two
and went trudging along
the western tracks
all the way down
to the southern city
of Matara.
No one ever dreamed
of what lay in store
within a few hours
along the way.
Passing Ambalangoda
heading towards Pereliya
it was around 9:21 am
when the waters of the
Indian Ocean
came thundering on
to the shore
engulfing everything
that lay in its path.
The train stopped still
Passengers rode on the roof
Some took shelter behind it
Hoping the water
will be shielded
by the metal
Nothing could withstand the power
of the 9 foot waves
The train was smashed into bits
tumbling on to its side
Eight carriages were locked
with water filling inside
a thousand seven hundred people
lost their lives.
It is recorded
as the largest single
train disaster
in the world
by death toll.
