Wild Elephant Attack Overturns Pilgrim Bus on Kataragama Road

COLOMBO (News 1st); A bus carrying pilgrims overturned following an encounter with a wild elephant on the Kataragama-Buttala Road, leaving 24 passengers injured, Police said.

According to Police, the injured were initially admitted to the Kataragama District Hospital, after which 12 of them were transferred to the Hambantota General Hospital for further treatment.

The bus had been travelling from Kataragama to Mahiyanganaya carrying a group of pilgrims when the incident occurred.

Police said the wild elephant had approached the vehicle in search of food and inserted its trunk into the bus. During the encounter, the elephant is believed to have pushed the vehicle, causing it to roll backwards, veer off the road and overturn.

The passengers injured in the incident are residents of the Chilaw area, according to Police.