Several injured in three-bus collision on A9 Road in Rambewa

Daily Mirror, Rupavahini News, Tamilmirror, Newswire, Newsfirst, Ada Derana and Hiru News report a collision involving three buses near Rambewa, in the Mihintale area of Anuradhapura, on the A9 road. Newswire dates the crash to the morning of November 10 and places it near the Rambewa-Weli Oya junction.

Newswire and Newsfirst report that the vehicles included two Sri Lanka Transport Board buses and a private bus. Newswire says one SLTB bus was travelling from Janakapura to Colombo and the other from Akkaraipattu to Jaffna; it reports that the buses collided head-on before a private bus travelling from Vavuniya to Colombo struck the rear of the Colombo-bound bus. Rupavahini News also identifies the two SLTB buses and one private bus.

The reported toll varies. Daily Mirror, Tamilmirror, Newsfirst and Ada Derana report five deaths, while Newswire's detailed account and Hiru News report four. Newsfirst says police reported more than 40 injured; Tamilmirror reports more than 50. Newswire gives a figure of 76 in its detailed report, while a separate Newswire headline says 70, and another Newswire report says around 20.

Newswire's detailed account says the dead included an SLTB bus driver and three passengers. It reports 61 passengers receiving treatment at Anuradhapura Hospital, 12 admitted to Medawachchiya Hospital and three women treated at Mihintale Hospital. Newsfirst and Rupavahini News also report that injured people were taken to hospitals, including in Anuradhapura and Medawachchiya.

Newswire reports that Mihintale Police are conducting further investigations into the crash.