’’Conductor shouted all to go down and hold tight as brakes fail’’ Ella accident survivor

5 September 2025 11:19 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 20 Bookmark

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By Prasad Rukmal

Colombo, Sept. 5 (Daily Mirror) - Explaining her tragic experience, a survivor of the Ella bus accident said that the conductor of the bus had shouted and said all to go down and hold tight as the brake system of the bus had failed.

A Tangalle Municipal employee who survived the accident said that soon after the message, the bus crashed onto the safety fence twice with a loud bang and plunged down the precipice.

"I was thrown out of the bus through a broken window," she said.

Comments - 20

Save the Nation Friday, 05 September 2025 11:32 AM

Check the service history and charge the bus owner with manslaughter for negligence, send a strong message... the the rest will reform and stop cutting corners and do mandatory service and maintenance.

2 84

Investigate Friday, 05 September 2025 12:12 PM

How many times have we heard of break failure on these buses? There needs to be a proper investigation done.

0 50

Ravi Friday, 05 September 2025 02:38 PM

Brake failures can happen even in well maintained vehicles.

30 6

Sobers Friday, 05 September 2025 12:12 PM

Private buses are a menace. This is manned by corrupt officers and authorities. The are a law unto themselves. They stop anywhere and everywhere to load passengers. Poor seating by introducing extra seats, mechanical not fit, they bribe and get things approved. Overloading, Rudeness, bad driving and much more. The authorities are the main culprits. High time government expand CTB and organise the private bus service in a disciplined manner.

3 64

Ylg Friday, 05 September 2025 03:34 PM

I agree. Instead of hassling people people in cars. Stop buses and trishaw driving like idiots.

1 10

Ram P Friday, 05 September 2025 12:35 PM

When brakes are failing driver should have steered the bus to the hilly side of the road and not to the fence side where after the fence is a precipice. Heavy vehicle and bus drivers must be required to spend a minimum of 2 hours every year on how to handle emergencies, road rules refresher etc lectures to be given to groups of 20-25 by qualified driver trainers. A small fee can be charged. Drivers must be required to present the certificate of attendance to the license issuing athority. These are the rules in the developed world.

1 46

Nalan Friday, 05 September 2025 02:41 PM

Well it seems he tried. He was blocked by the on coming traffic, hitting one vehicle in the process. It happened so quickly that he has no time assess the situation correctly. Poor lad. So much life ahead of him.

3 13

Cassie Friday, 05 September 2025 12:40 PM

Terrible tragedy. Let's see what the investigation reveals.

0 12

Kalubanda Friday, 05 September 2025 12:40 PM

Brakes fail because untrained drivers ride the brake downhill instead of downshifting (can often smell the burnt graphite). And if brakes fail for any other reason, a trained driver will drop to low gear to serve as a brake. Drivers of passenger vehicles must be trained for high-country driving.

1 37

Shaluka Friday, 05 September 2025 01:01 PM

I am not a forensic expert, but enough age to read and understand rather than put blame into drivers or owners not following rules etc etc, once country well into financial hardship, everyone gets impacted households food, basic resources and moreover quality parts and maintenance such as break-pads, break oil etc, all of them skyrocketing prices service charges, with recent major incidents including CTB and private sector maybe resulting from those, Rest in peace good driver who advised what to do in a serious situation

19 20

roobarbie Friday, 05 September 2025 02:25 PM

What logic is this? If no money, the owner should not run the business with dangerous vehicles. Peoples lives at stake, not just the passengers and bus crews but also unsuspecting pedestrians on the roads. Transport business should be regulated, if it is not done at present.

2 22

NTC Inspector Friday, 05 September 2025 02:45 PM

Which private bus service are you running? Send your bus fleet service and maintenance history ASAP. Balu wada karanna epa ban.

3 12

Fernando Friday, 05 September 2025 02:50 PM

First of all, make it mandatory for all drivers to learn how to drive on hilly roads. It's far more difficult than driving on even roads in other areas. A first timer may not even know that a low gear should be used when coming down on a slope. Categories driving exams for them to learn all kinds of roads.

1 11

Logic Friday, 05 September 2025 03:51 PM

If brakes failed in the bus why was the jeep driver arrested?

0 18

M Fahim Friday, 05 September 2025 04:06 PM

Money talks irrespective of political parties. This is Sri Lanka.

0 0

Vadivelu Yogaratnam Friday, 05 September 2025 04:06 PM

The person who has given the Road Worthy Certificate must be arrested immediately after investigation. All heavy duty vehicles must go for inspection once in every 12 months I wonder weather this practice happens in Srilanka, people must be obtaining RW certificate without taking vehicles to the centre by bribe is the practice in pass still happens. Government must put an end to it.

0 0

Dain Martin Friday, 05 September 2025 04:29 PM

What about the emergency brake, either the driver panicked and didn’t use it or more likely that failed as well. All problems left by the previous, corrupt regime left for NPP to fix - which I am sure they will, given time. At least we know they will do it. Clean Sri Lanka!

0 0

Terrence K Friday, 05 September 2025 05:08 PM

In Accidents of this nature everyone point fingers to drivers who maybe innocent in the accident. The problem lies where some roads on the upcountry cannot ensure the passage of two vehicles to pass each other. In such cases the Road Development Authority should do a proper study and ensure that where two vehicles cannot pass each other Advertising Boards with Danger signs should be placed with proper lighting so that vehicles passing each other could ascertain that there are hazards in front, side etc. so that drivers could reduce their speed and avoid any mishaps. There was a time at Ramboda when the road was widened with a tunnel and the Road Development Authority ensured that this activity was highlighted with Boards before approaching this place. Unless a concentrated effort is made by the government in ensuring the safety on winding roads (hairpins) just having Artificial Technology in buses will not suffice because the future will hold many disasters!!!!

0 0

wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 05 September 2025 05:40 PM

Overloading and speed also contribute to the failure. If this is a certified bus for transporting passengers, modern vehicles reasonably address this probability. The experience and training of the driver, as well as that of the maintenance staff, are also important. Transporting the public safely is serious business.

0 0

Gx Friday, 05 September 2025 07:45 PM

You are indeed fortunate lady... You are certainly blessed for the kindness you extend to your neighbors.

0 0

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