Rescue underway for flood-stranded bus passengers as President monitors operation live

A major rescue operation is underway after a bus caught in rising floodwaters on the Kala Oya bridge along the Anuradhapura–Puttalam road was swept off course, forcing passengers to seek refuge on the roof of a nearby house.

According to officials, the passengers—who were unable to be evacuated last night due to dangerously high flood levels—remain stranded amid severe weather conditions. Navy teams have been deployed to safely extract those trapped.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake monitored the operation live this morning (29), observing real-time footage of the navy’s ongoing efforts.

The Sri Lanka Navy has intensified the rescue mission, with additional personnel from the Rapid Action Boats Squadron (RABS), the Navy Diving Unit, and the Special Boat Squadron joining the operation.