At least 21 people were killed and 24 injured when an overcrowded bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims plunged off a cliff in Sri Lanka early Sunday, according to a senior transport official.
The accident occurred in Kotmale, a hilly region in central Sri Lanka, and is among the deadliest road crashes the country has seen in decades. The island nation is known for its hazardous, winding roads.
Images of the aftermath showed the bus severely damaged, with its roof and side panels torn off and many of the seats ripped from the floor. The vehicle landed upside down in a tea plantation.
Police reported that the state-run bus was carrying about 70 people — roughly 20 over its capacity — on a journey from the southern pilgrimage town of Kataragama to Kurunegala, located about 250 kilometers away. The crash happened before dawn when the driver lost control and the bus veered off the road.
Authorities are investigating whether mechanical failure or driver fatigue caused the accident. A local police officer, speaking anonymously, said both possibilities are being considered.
Deputy Transport Minister Prasanna Gunasena, speaking at the crash site, confirmed the death toll and said efforts are ongoing to identify the victims. He also praised local residents who helped rescue passengers and transport the injured to two nearby hospitals.
One survivor, speaking to a local journalist, said he was seated at the front of the bus and escaped with minor injuries. He described the vehicle leaning to the left before losing control on a bend and falling into the ravine.
Sri Lanka experiences around 3,000 road fatalities annually, making it one of the most dangerous countries for drivers. Sunday’s tragedy is the worst since April 2005, when a bus collided with a train in Polgahawela, killing 37. Another major accident occurred in March 2021, when a private bus fell off a cliff in Passara, killing 14.
