Sri Lanka Bus Crash Kills 21, Highlights Road Crisis

A catastrophic bus accident in Sri Lanka's Kotmale region resulted in at least 21 deaths and over 30 injuries after an overcrowded state-run bus carrying Buddhist pilgrims veered off a cliff. The bus, which was traveling from Kataragama to Kurunegala with about 70 passengers—20 more than its capacity—crashed before dawn, possibly due to driver recklessness, fatigue, or mechanical failure. Local residents assisted in rescuing victims, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause. This incident is among the deadliest road accidents in Sri Lanka in recent decades and highlights persistent issues such as overcrowding, poor road conditions, and lapses in road safety. The tragedy comes amid other deadly incidents in South Asia, including a major accident in Punjab, Pakistan, that claimed 12 lives and left over 1,700 injured in a single day, and another fatal collision in Kozhikode, India. These events highlight a regional road safety crisis, especially on narrow and poorly maintained roads.