The bus was traveling from Nuwara Eliya to Trincomalee, a popular tourist destination on the east coast. Police said on Thursday that the accident occurred due to sudden brake failure when the bus was going through a hilly area, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to police, those who sustained injuries have been admitted to Nuwara-Eliya District Hospital.

Official data shows that 2,557 people died in 2,200 fatal road accidents in the South Asian country in 2023.