Disturbing images are emerging from Sri Lanka, where at least 21 passengers lost their lives and another 24 were injured on Sunday morning (May 25) when a bus carrying Buddhist devotees plunged into a ravine, according to the Deputy Minister of Transport. “Twenty-one people are confirmed dead, and we are in the process of identification,” stated Prasana Gunasekera, who rushed to the scene of the tragedy in central Sri Lanka. “The injured have been transported to two hospitals,” he added.
The bus, which was carrying 70 people despite having a maximum seating capacity of 50, was traveling through hilly terrain near Kotmale when the driver lost control, police explained. “The bus veered to the left, and when the driver attempted a turn, he lost control, causing the bus to fall into the ravine,” recounted a survivor who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. “We’re trying to understand if the vehicle suffered mechanical failure or if the driver fell asleep at the wheel,” said an unnamed police officer to the French Press Agency. The bus, operated by a public transport company, had departed from the southern city of Kataragama en route to Kurunegala, approximately 250 kilometers northwest.
This marks the deadliest road accident on the island in 20 years. A train-bus collision in 2005 claimed 37 lives in the country’s northwestern region. On average, about 3,000 people die annually in road accidents in Sri Lanka.