KOTALE, Sri Lanka– An overcrowded passenger bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims plunged off a cliff early Sunday in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, killing at least 21 and injuring over 30, according to police and transport officials. Al Jazeera +5 YouTube
+5 The accident took place near Kotmale, approximately 140 kilometers (86 miles) east of Colombo. A state-run bus travelling between Kataragama and Kurunegala in the northwest veered off its path before plunging over an embankment into Gerandi Ella region renowned for its scenic waterfalls.
Global Nation and Al Jazeera reported this story. AP News covered it too but Global Nation + The Sun provided additional coverage.
Prasanna Gunasena, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways in Sri Lanka, confirmed the death toll and reported 35 others were receiving care at local hospitals. “We are trying to identify victims,” Gunasena told local media, noting the reduced fatality count is due in part to local residents rushing to help rescue survivors from wreckage at the scene. The Sun and Al Jazeera both covered this incident extensively.
Television footage showed the bus overturn at the bottom of a steep slope with roof and side panels torn off, seats scattered across hillside, operated by state-run bus company carrying nearly 50 passengers at time of crash. Al Jazeera + The Sun + AP News reports.
Police Spokesman Buddhika Manathunga announced an investigation has been initiated to ascertain whether driver error or mechanical failure contributed to the accident. “We are trying to ascertain whether it was mechanical failure or whether someone fell asleep behind the wheel,” he stated.
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Sri Lanka is plagued with road accidents, especially in its hilly regions where narrow, poorly maintained roads and reckless driving lead to fatalities. Official records reveal that more than 600 Sri Lankans have lost their lives so far this year due to 565 fatal road incidents (AP News).
Sri Lankan officials have extended their condolences to the families of those killed, promising to improve road safety measures to avoid similar tragedies in future.
This accident marks one of the deadliest road incidents in recent memory in Sri Lanka and highlights the critical need to bolster transportation safety protocols and infrastructure improvements across the nation.