Kotmale: At least 21 people lost their lives, and many others sustained injuries when a bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims veered off a cliff in central Sri Lanka on Sunday, authorities confirmed.
The catastrophic accident occurred in the mountainous region of Kotmale, approximately 140 kilometers east of Colombo, the capital city. Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena, reported that the death toll had reached 21, with efforts underway to identify the victims.
Minister Gunasena acknowledged that the toll could have been higher if not for the immediate intervention of local residents who pulled survivors from the wreckage and transported them to nearby hospitals.
Television footage depicted the bus overturned at the base of a steep precipice, while volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue the injured. The bus’s roof and side panels were severely damaged, with more than half of the seats detached from the vehicle’s floor, which landed upside down in a tea plantation.
Authorities confirmed that 24 passengers were receiving treatment at two local hospitals. One survivor, who had been seated at the front of the bus, described his narrow escape. "The bus was leaning to the left, and as the driver tried to maneuver a sharp curve, he lost control, and the vehicle plunged down," he recounted, choosing to remain anonymous.
The ill-fated bus, operated by a state-owned transport company, was traveling from the sacred town of Kataragama in the south to Kurunegala in central Sri Lanka, covering a distance of approximately 250 kilometers.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, and officials are examining whether any mechanical failure or driver error contributed to the tragedy.
