Gerandi Ella tragedy: 21 killed, 35 injured when bus plunges off cliff

At least 21 people were killed and over 35 were injured when a passenger bus plunged off a cliff in Sri Lanka’s Central province on Sunday.

According to the police, more than 35 passengers were injured in the crash and were treated at regional hospitals.

Police said the bus was carrying 75 passengers from the southern pilgrimage site of Kataragama to the northwestern town of Kurunegala when it plunged 100 meters off a cliff.

An investigation into the cause of the accident has been launched.

Road accidents are frequent in Sri Lanka, with official data showing that buses are often involved.

Nearly 600 Sri Lankans have died in 565 fatal road accidents so far this year, according to police data.

A person dies in a road accident every three hours in Sri Lanka.