At least 15 people were killed in a tragic bus accident on the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka’s Uva province on Friday. Another 16 people were injured and taken to hospital.
Doctors said some of them are in serious condition, according to Xinhua News Agency. Police said the accident happened on Thursday night when a bus carrying municipal workers, who were returning from a leisure trip, went off the road and fell into a deep ravine, a few hundred meters below.
Because of the rough terrain, the rescue operation was difficult and involved the police, army, air force, fire department, and local villagers. The rescue work went on until about 4 a.m. Friday.
This comes just days after another bus accident in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province. On August 30, one person died and 57 others were injured when a bus carrying pilgrims went off the road in Pottuvil and hit a culvert before stopping. The victim was a 74-year-old man. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, police said.
Sri Lanka continues to see frequent road accidents, especially involving buses. Police data shows that in 2024 alone, 2,541 people have lost their lives in 2,403 fatal crashes.
The latest tragedy took place on the Ella-Wellawaya road in Uva province, where at least 15 people were killed, police confirmed on Friday.
Another 16 passengers were rushed to hospital, with doctors warning that several are in critical condition, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The accident happened late Thursday night when a bus carrying municipal workers returning from a leisure trip veered off the road and plunged into a ravine several hundred meters deep.
Rescue operations were extremely challenging due to the rough terrain and went on until around 4 a.m. Friday. Police said the effort involved not only emergency teams but also the army, air force, fire department, and local residents.
Just days earlier, on August 30, another bus crash in Pottuvil, Eastern Province, left one person dead and 57 injured after the vehicle carrying pilgrims went off the road and hit a culvert. The deceased was identified as a 74-year-old man, while the injured were taken to regional hospitals for treatment.