21 killed, over 35 injured as bus falls off cliff in Sri Lanka

At least 21 passengers were killed in Sri Lanka after a government bus skidded off a hill and plunged down a cliff on Sunday morning.

The bus was carrying 75 passengers on a journey from the southern pilgrim town of Kataragama to Kurunegala in the northwest. The crash left over 35 people injured, with 15 in critical condition, including two children.

The incident occurred around 11 AM while the state-owned bus was navigating a hilly stretch in Kotmale. The driver lost control while attempting a left turn, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall nearly 100 meters down the slope.

Authorities rushed the injured to hospitals in Nuwara Eliya, Kambalai, and Navalapatti. The serious cases were transferred to the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital for advanced treatment.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena, confirmed the death toll and said the government will investigate the cause of the accident.