Three dead, 58 critical in bus accident along Walapane - Nuwara Eliya road

Three people have died while 58 were left critically injured in a bus accident that occured at 7 pm along the Walapane - Nuwara Eliya road yesterday (Mar 24).

The bus which was travelling towards Ampara from Nuwara Eliya had tumbled off a precipice when it was taking a turn along the Walapane - Nuwara Eliya road. It is reported that the bus had tumbled 100 metres down the hill after it had skidded off the road while taking the turn. 

The injured were intially admitted to the Walapane Hospital following which they were transferred to the Nuwara Eliya hospital for further treatment. A youth estimated to be around 27 years old and a conceived mother had succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at the Nuwara Eliya hospital.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a technical malfunctioning in the bus had caused the vehicle to skid off the precipice thereby causing the accident.

Meanwhile, those injured including children are currently receving treatment at the Nuwara Eliya Co-operative Hospital and the Kandy General Hospital.

Walapane police are investigating further into the accident.

(Reporting and pics by G. Krishanthan)