The death toll from the Ella-Wellawaya bus accident has risen to 10, with 15 more victims still fighting for their lives in hospital after the municipal council excursion bus plunged deep into a mountain precipice.
The devastating bus accident that occurred on the Ella-Wellawaya main road has taken an even grimmer turn, as hospital authorities confirmed that the death toll has climbed to 10. The accident involved a bus carrying employees of the Tangalle Municipal Council on an excursion tour when it toppled into a deep precipice near the 24th kilometer post of the winding road.
Rescue teams and emergency workers rushed to the scene, working tirelessly to retrieve survivors from the wreckage scattered down the valley. Fifteen injured passengers remain hospitalized at the Badulla Teaching Hospital, where medical staff are providing urgent treatment under critical conditions.
Police stated that the bus lost control while navigating a sharp bend along the hazardous Ella-Wellawaya road, a route notorious for steep drops and dangerous turns. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether mechanical failure, driver error, or poor road conditions played a role in the tragedy.
This accident has once again highlighted the serious risks faced by travelers on Sri Lanka’s hill country roads, where frequent accidents have claimed many lives over the years. Authorities are now under pressure to improve road safety standards and implement stronger measures to prevent similar disasters.
The Tangalle Municipal Council employees were reportedly traveling on an official tour when the tragedy struck, leaving families and the community in deep mourning. With the rising death toll and several victims in critical condition, the nation has been shaken by yet another deadly road disaster.
