The Wilwatte (Mirigama) train crash of 1964, as I recall. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Official Record: On Saturday, October 17, 1964, another major railway accident occurred at Vilwatte on the Main line near Mirigama. Over forty people who were on this train died when the accident happened at about 6.45 a.m. More than a hundred commuters suffered serious injuries.
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Back in 1964, I was working as DMO at Mirigama Government Hospital when a major derailment of the Talaimannar/Colombo train occurred at the railway crossing in Wilwatte, near the DMO’s quarters. The first major derailment, according to records, took place in Katukurunda on March 12, 1928, when there was a head- on collision between two fast-moving trains near Katukurunda, resulting in the deaths of 28 people.
Please permit me to provide details concerning the regrettable single train derailment involving the Talaimannar Colombo train,
which occurred in October 1964 at the Wilwatte railway crossing in Mirigama.
This is the first time I’m openly sharing what happened on that heartbreaking morning, as I share the story of the doctor who cared for all the victims. The Health Minister, the Health Department, and our community truly valued my efforts.
By that time, I had qualified with the Primary FRCS and gained valuable surgical experience as a registrar at the General Hospital in Colombo. I was hopeful to move to the UK to pursue the final FRCS degree and further training. Sadly, all scholarships were halted by Hon. Felix Dias Bandaranaike, the finance minister in the Bandaranaike government in 1961.
Consequently, I was transferred to Mirigama as the District Medical Officer in 1964. While training as an emerging surgeon without completing the final fellowship in the United Kingdom, I established an operating theatre in one of the hospital’s large rooms. A colleague at the Central Medical Stores in Maradana assisted me in acquiring all necessary equipment for the operating theatre, unofficially. Subsequently, I commenced performing minor surgeries under spinal anaesthesia and local anaesthesia.
Fortunately, I was privileged to have a theatre-trained nursing sister and an attendant trainee at the General Hospital in Colombo.
Therefore, I was prepared to respond to any accidental injuries. I possessed a substantial stock of plaster of Paris rolls for treating fractures, and all suture material for cuts.
I was thoroughly prepared for any surgical mishaps, enabling me to manage even the most significant accidental incidents.
On Saturday, October 17, 1964, the day of the train derailment at the railway crossing at Wilwatte, Mirigama, along the Main railway line near Mirigama, my house officer, Janzse, called me at my quarters and said, “Sir, please come promptly; numerous casualties have been admitted to the hospital following the derailment.”
I asked him whether it was an April Fool’s stunt. He said, ” No, Sir, quite seriously.
I promptly proceeded to the hospital and directly accessed the operating theatre, preparing to attend to the casualties.
Meanwhile, I received a call from the site informing me that a girl was trapped on a railway wagon wheel and may require amputation of her limb to mobilise her at the location along the railway line where she was entrapped.
My theatre staff transported the surgical equipment to the site. The girl was still breathing and was in shock. A saline infusion was administered, and under local anaesthesia, I successfully performed the limb amputation and transported her to the hospital with my staff.
On inquiring, she was an apothecary student going to Colombo for the final examination to qualify as an apothecary.
Although records indicate that over forty passengers perished immediately, I recollect that the number was 26.
Over a hundred casualties, and potentially a greater number, necessitate suturing of deep lacerations, stabilisation of fractures, application of plaster, and other associated medical interventions.
No patient was transferred to Colombo for treatment. All casualties received care at this base hospital.
All the daily newspapers and other mass media commended the staff team for their commendable work and the attentive care provided to all casualties, satisfying their needs.
The following morning, the Honourable Minister of Health, Mr M. D.
- Jayawardena, and the Director of Health Services, accompanied by his staff, arrived at the hospital.
I did the rounds with the official team, bed by bed, explaining their injuries to the minister and director.
Casualties expressed their commendation to the hospital staff for the care they received.
The Honourable Minister engaged me privately at the conclusion of the rounds. He stated, “Doctor, you have been instrumental in our success, and the public is exceedingly appreciative, with no criticism. As a token of gratitude, may I inquire how I may assist you in return?”
I got the chance to tell him that I am waiting for a scholarship to proceed to the UK for my Fellowship and further training.
Within one month, the government granted me a scholarship to undertake my fellowship in the United Kingdom, and I subsequently travelled to the UK in 1965.
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On the third day following the incident, Mr Don Rampala, the General Manager of Railways, accompanied by his deputy, Mr Raja Gopal, visited the hospital. A conference was held at which Mr Gopal explained and demonstrated the circumstances of the derailment using empty matchboxes.
He explained that an empty wagon was situated amid the passenger compartments. At the curve along the railway line at Wilwatte, the engine driver applied the brakes to decelerate, as Mirigama Railway Station was only a quarter of a mile distant.
The vacant wagon was lifted and transported through the air. All passenger compartments behind the wagon derailed, whereas the engine
and the front compartments proceeded towards the station without the engine driver noticing the mishap.
After this major accident, I was privileged to be invited by the General Manager of the railways for official functions until I left Mirigama.
The press revealed my identity as the “Wilwatte Hero”.
This document presents my account of the Wilwatte historic train derailment, as I distinctly recall it.
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