41 injured in pilgrim bus mishap

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

DICKOYA: Forty one pilgrims were injured, one critically, when a Sri Pada bound bus hurtled down a precipice near the Dick-oya District hospital on the Hatton Bagawanthalawa main road on Saturday at around 11.30 pm.

According to Norwood police, the driver had lost control of the vehicle plying at high speed at a sharp bend near the Hospital.

It had then veered off the road and plunged into a 100 foot precipice.

Police said the driver who was also injured did not posses a valid driving licence.

The injured were removed to the Dickoya District Hospital and Nawalapitiya Base Hospital. The critically injured pilgrim was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital. According to police, negligent driving coupled with misty conditions was the cause of the mishap.

Further investigations are being carried out by Norwood police station under the supervision of OIC Anura Wijebandara.