The driver is among those hospitalized. Deputy Transport Minister Prasanna Gunasena confirmed the death toll and praised the locals: “If they hadn’t assisted, the death toll might have been greater.”
Fatal bus accidents are common in Sri Lanka, especially in hilly areas with narrow, poorly maintained roads. The country records around 3,000 road deaths yearly. This crash is one of the worst since 2005, when 37 people died in a bus-train collision.
Other recent tragedies include the death of a tourist who leaned out of a train for a photo and struck a rock, and the deaths of two hostel guests—including a British influencer—allegedly poisoned by pesticide used against bed bugs.
These incidents highlight growing concerns over transportation and public safety in the island nation.
