Tragedy Strikes Melsiripura Monastery as Cable Car Collapses
MELSIRIPURA – A serene sanctuary in the heart of Sri Lanka became the site of a devastating tragedy last night as a “dakkuwa” (a type of cable car) at the Na Uyana Aranya Senasanaya monastery in Melsiripura crashed, killing seven monks. The accident, which occurred as 13 monks were traveling between their living quarters, has sent shockwaves through the country and its Buddhist community.
Initial reports from local authorities confirm that the death toll has risen to seven. Among the deceased are two foreign national monks, a detail that adds a layer of international mourning to the tragedy. The bodies of the two foreign monks have been taken to the Gokarella Regional Hospital, while the remains of the five Sri Lankan monks have been moved to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.
The accident happened around 10 PM. The “dakkuwa” is a small cable car system used to transport monks across the difficult, hilly terrain of the monastery’s vast forest reserve. It is an essential part of the daily life for the resident monks, allowing them to travel between the main monastery and their secluded meditation huts.
According to a police spokesperson, the preliminary investigation suggests the crash may have been caused by a snapped cable or a failure of the support structure. The entire system is now under a full-scale investigation, with police and government officials at the scene working to determine the exact cause. Officials from the Government Analyst’s Department are expected to examine the debris to uncover what led to the catastrophic failure.
Six other monks who were on the cable car at the time of the collapse sustained serious injuries and were immediately rushed to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital for urgent medical care. Their conditions are being closely monitored.
The Na Uyana Aranya Senasanaya is a well-known meditation center attracting monks and devotees from around the world. The incident has left its large community in profound shock and sorrow. The authorities have sealed off the area and have urged the public to refrain from visiting the monastery to allow for the investigation to proceed unhindered.
As the nation comes to terms with this tragic loss, questions are being raised about the safety and maintenance of similar cable car systems used in other remote monasteries and places of worship across the country. The tragic deaths of these seven monks serve as a painful reminder of the importance of strict safety protocols and regular inspections, even in the most secluded and sacred of places.
