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by Don Asoka Wijewardena and Jayampathi Jayasinghe

Police investigators look at the wreckage of a bus that collided with another near Panadura, yesterday. At least nine passengers were killed and another 30 were wounded. AFP

Eleven persons including a 7-year-old child were killed in a tragic bus accident which occurred early last morning at Nalluruwa, Panadura. An over-speeding private bus (Leyland 62/5137) Colombo bound from Elpitiya collided head-on with an Isuzu Journey bus (29/9729) with pilgrims proceeding to Kataragama from Mulleriyawa, Angoda.

Senior Superintendent of Police Panadura, Kethsiri Dayananda, told the Sunday Observer that 9 passengers died on the spot and 2 others on admission to the Panadura hospital. All the dead including the driver were from the Isuzu Journey bus in addition to about 25 passengers who sustained severe and minor injuries who were rushed to the Panadura hospital. According to the SSP Panadura, the Leyland bus driven at a high speed had tried to overtake a vehicle at Nalluruwa when it collided with the Isuzu Journey, bus travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Leyland bus was taken into custody and he didn't appear to be under the influence of liquor at the time of the accident," the SSP said. The driver will be produced before the Panadura Magistrate, who is expected to visit the scene of tragedy to hold an inquiry.

Panadura hospital sources said that about 12 persons who were critically injured were transferred to the Colombo National Hospital and others with minor injuries were treated at the OPD.

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