• At least 21 people died and 35 were injured in a bus crash in Sri Lanka.
• The state-run bus was carrying Buddhist pilgrims when it skidded off a cliff.
• Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident which is among the deadliest in years.

At least 21 people have died, and many others injured after a bus carrying dozens of Buddhist pilgrims veered off a cliff in Sri Lanka's mountainous central region. The accident occurred near Kotmale, approximately 140 kilometers east of Colombo, during the early hours of Sunday, reports indicate that around 70 passengers were on board, exceeding the vehicle's capacity, according to aa, aljazeera, and indiatimes.

The bus was reportedly en route from the pilgrimage town of Kataragama to Kurunegala when it lost control and plummeted into a tea plantation. Local officials are investigating the accident's cause, with suggestions of mechanical failure or driver fatigue being considered. Video footage revealed the bus overturned, highlighting the post-crash chaos as volunteers assisted injured passengers, as stated by aljazeera and dawn.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the bus was overcrowded, carrying about 20 more passengers than its capacity. This incident is categorized as one of the worst in Sri Lanka's recent history, with the country recording an average of 3,000 road fatalities annually. According to trtglobal and indiatimes, this tragedy emphasizes the dangers associated with navigating the island’s perilous roads.