Two dead, 39 injured in KDU bus topple
Two students died and 39 others were injured when a bus carrying a group of students from Kotelawala Defence University veered off the road, collided with a bund and toppled at the 5th Mile Post area of Dunhinda on the Badulla-Mahiyanganaya main road in the early hours of yesterday (1).
Among the injured who were admitted to the Badulla Teaching Hospital are three university lecturers, two army officers and 34 students, including 15 female students and 19 male students. Hospital sources confirmed that several individuals are in serious condition, currently receiving care in the ICU and in wards 9, 10 and 15 at Badulla Teaching Hospital. Senior Medical Officer of the hospital
Dr.Palitha Rajapaksha said that six out of 39 students who were injured following the accident are in critical condition
The incident occurred as the students, all in their final year at Kothelawala Defence University were on their way for a training programme in Randenigala after spending the previous night in Passara. They had arrived in Badulla and toured the Ella area the day before (31).
Preliminary investigations by the police indicate a sudden mechanical failure as the likely cause, leading the driver to attempt an emergency stop by steering into a wall, resulting in the bus overturning.
Medical staff, led by Senior Medical Officer Dr.Palitha Rajapaksha, along with local residents, worked diligently to take the injured passengers from the bus and transfer them to Badulla Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The students involved in this accident were from various regions across the country, including Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Padukka, Avissawella, Alawwa and Kurunegala. The identities of the deceased female students have not yet been confirmed. Their bodies are being held at the mortuary of the hospital’s Outpatient Department for identification.
Police said 42 persons including 18 girls were on board of the bus when the accident occurred . They include 36 students, two lecturers, a visiting lecturer, two army and navy officers and the driver.
One of the deceased has been identified as M.P.T. Hettimulla and the police said that the other student could not be identified due to the damages caused on her face.
Badulla DIG Sujith Wedamulla has assigned Chief Inspector Chanaka Chiranjeeva Wijerathna and Inspector Jayatunga from the Traffic Division to conduct further investigations.
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