Ella Police reported that three brothers narrowly escaped death just moments before the deadly excursion bus crash near the 15th Mile Post on the Ella–Wellawaya main road that left 15 people dead and 18 injured.
The survivors were identified as H.M. Chamidu Deshan (22) and his two younger brothers, aged 17 and 19, residents of Bandarewela, Poonagala Road. Chamidu operates a business in Buttala and was driving the luxury jeep involved in the collision with the bus shortly before it plunged into the ravine.
The bus was carrying a group of Tangalle Municipal Council employees and their families returning from a trip to Nuwara Eliya. After colliding with the jeep, the bus veered off the road, crashed into a guardrail, and plunged nearly 1,000 feet into the ravine near Ravana Falls, resulting in the mass casualty incident.
Recounting the terrifying moments, Chamidu said:
“We had just finished work in Buttala and were returning home that night. I was driving the jeep, with my younger brother in the front seat and the other in the back. We are very familiar with this road and its dangerous bends.
“Near the 15th Mile Post, we saw a brightly lit excursion bus coming fast from the Ella side. It was heading straight towards us. I swerved the jeep as far left as I could, but the bus still hit the right side of our vehicle and sped past. The jeep stopped immediately. We were shocked and could not understand what had just happened.”
Soon after, another motorist stopped and asked whether the bus had not halted after the collision. Moments later, Chamidu and his brothers heard screams from below the bend, calling for help.
“It was completely dark. Then we saw the bus’s number plate and a broken iron rod on the road. An Army truck came from the Wellawaya side, and we stopped it and explained what had happened. Soldiers used ropes and torches to climb down and rescued two children, two women, and a man who were trapped in the ravine. That’s when we realised the bus had fallen into the precipice,” Chamidu said.
Ella Police arrived shortly after and closed the road to allow ambulances to reach the scene. The first five survivors rescued were taken to the Badulla Teaching Hospital.
Throughout the night, soldiers, police officers, doctors, and villagers worked together using ropes, torches, and generators to bring up the injured from the ravine and send them to hospitals. Later, the bodies of the deceased were also recovered.
Chamidu and his brothers were unhurt but deeply shaken.
“We survived without a scratch, but so many innocent lives were lost and many others were badly injured. We are heartbroken,” he said.
Chamidu was later presented before the Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court and released on a surety bail of Rs. 1 million. His jeep sustained damage to the right side. (Courtesy: Lankadeepa)
