Seven Buddhist monks, including three from abroad, were killed when their cable-operated rail cart broke and plunged down a hillside in northwestern Sri Lanka, according to police reports on Thursday.
The monks were packed into the small temporary cabin on their way to meditation units atop a mountain within the expansive Na Uyana forest monastery late Wednesday night, authorities reported.
“There were 13 monks in the cart. Two escaped with minor injuries, while four others remain in critical condition,” a police official told AFP.
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The deceased included monks from India, Russia, and Romania.
Preliminary findings indicated that the cable had broken, causing the cart to speed downhill uncontrollably before it derailed and collided with a tree.
The monastery is situated 130 kilometers (81 miles) northeast of Colombo, the capital.
