UPDATED: Multiple casualties are reported in a fatal collision involving a bus, a van and a three-wheeler on Radella Shortcut Road in Nuwara Eliya this evening (Jan 20).

According to reports, the bus had toppled down a precipice of about 100 feet, after it collided with a van and three-wheeler that arrived from the opposite direction.

The bus, which was en route to Colombo, had been transporting a group of students of Thurstan College in Colombo, who were on an educational tour in Nuwara Eliya. Reports revealed that 53 passengers – including teachers, parents and 41 students of Grade 11 – were inside the bus at the time of the accident.

Seven people – the driver of the three-wheeler and six others who were travelling in the van – died on the spot. Five of the passengers in the van were family members including two men aged 26 ad 27 years and a woman aged 43 years.

The police said three children were among the deceased – two girls aged 08 and 12 years and a 19-year-old boy. 

A total of 41 students in the bus sustained injuries in the accident, however, it is reported that none of them is in critical condition, the principal of Thurstan College confirmed, speaking to Ada Derana.

The injured individuals were rushed to the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital in a joint effort by the Police Special Task Force (STF) and the residents of the area.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the relevant officials to provide all necessary assistance to the students who were injured in the accident and if required for the Air Force to airlift those in critical condition to Colombo.

Officers of Nanu Oya Police are conducting further investigations into the incident, police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said speaking in this regard.