At Least 30 Injured Including Driver,
Investigation Underway into Cause of Accident
A bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims overturned near Kothmale town in the central mountainous region of Sri Lanka. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
In Sri Lanka, a bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims fell off a cliff, resulting in at least 22 deaths and injuries to more than 30 people.
According to AP and EFE news agencies on May 12, the accident occurred the previous morning near Kothmale town, located about 140 kilometers east of the capital Colombo in the central mountainous region. Among the injured, including the bus driver, some are in critical condition, so the death toll may rise further.
AP reported that local broadcasters aired footage showing the overturned bus at the bottom of the cliff and rescuers helping the injured from the wreckage. Police have begun an investigation to determine whether the accident was caused by the driver’s reckless driving or by a technical defect in the bus itself.
A police official stated that the bus involved in the accident, which belonged to a state-run bus company, was carrying Buddhist pilgrims from Kataragama to Kurunegala at the time of the crash.
An eyewitness told local media that the bus was speeding, tilted to the left, and then fell off the cliff.
In Sri Lanka, traffic accidents frequently occur due to reckless driving or poor vehicle maintenance, and these incidents are particularly concentrated in mountainous regions.
According to Xinhua News Agency, police reported that between the beginning of this year and April 2, there were a total of 565 traffic accidents across Sri Lanka, resulting in 592 deaths.
Anura Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka, issued a statement saying, "We will develop comprehensive and sustainable strategies to prevent the recurrence of such accidents."
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