At least 15 people lost their lives and 16 others were injured after a bus accident occurred on Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province. The bus, carrying a group of municipal employees returning from a leisure trip, veered off the road and plunged into a ravine several hundred meters deep. According to police, the injured passengers were rushed to regional hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition.

Rescue operations were challenging due to the rough terrain and involved the police, army, air force, fire department, and local residents. Efforts continued until around 4 am local time on Friday. Authorities confirmed that investigations into the accident are ongoing.

Sri Lanka has witnessed frequent fatal road accidents in recent months. On August 30, a bus carrying pilgrims crashed in Pottuvil, Eastern Province, killing one person and injuring 57 others. Earlier, on August 27, three people, including two school students, were killed when a school van collided with a tipper truck in Kuliyapitiya, North Western Province. On August 16, two buses collided in Monaragala, Uva Province, resulting in one death and 22 injuries. Police data for 2024 shows that the country recorded 2,541 deaths from 2,403 fatal road accidents.