Bus plummeting from a cliff in Sri Lanka results in the fatalities of 15 passengers

Individuals sustained injuries when a bus plunged over a 300-meter vertical drop.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 10:43 PM

1 min read

Bus crashes over cliff in Sri Lanka, claims lives of 15 passengers

Bus plummeting from a cliff in Sri Lanka results in the fatalities of 15 passengers

In a tragic turn of events, a passenger bus veered off a road and plunged into a precipice near the town of Wellawaya, approximately 280km east of Colombo, on Thursday night. The accident, reported by a police spokesman, Fredrick Wootler, resulted in 15 fatalities and left 16 people injured, five of whom were children.

The rescue efforts, which took place in harsh terrain, involved rescue crews, including soldiers, police officers, and volunteers, who were working throughout the night to remove the injured. Local television footage showed the severely damaged bus at the bottom of the precipice, which is approximately 300m deep.

Deadly bus accidents are unfortunately common in Sri Lanka, particularly in mountainous regions. The roads in the country are often poorly maintained and narrow, which can contribute to these accidents. In this case, the initial police investigation suggested that the driver was driving the bus at high speed and lost control, causing the bus to crash with another vehicle and into guardrails before falling off the cliff.

Reckless driving is a significant factor in many of these accidents. The bus involved in this incident was operated by the Private Passenger Bus Owners Association. The association has not yet released a statement regarding the accident.

The government and the public are urging for stricter regulations and safety measures to be implemented to prevent such accidents in the future. The loss of life in this accident is a stark reminder of the need for action to ensure the safety of passengers on Sri Lanka's roads.

Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. We hope for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.