Colombo, Jan 31 (NIA) – 15 cattle were killed when a speeding bus ran into a herd in Maankulam in northern Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, a local media report said.
20 cattle were also seriously injured in the accident, the police said.
The driver of the bus had been arrested after he surrendered to the police. No passengers had been injured in the accident.
Maankulam police are conducting further investigations.
Accidents caused by speeding buses and vehicles are rampant in Sri Lanka with nearly 3000 people killed a year on the island.
Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, in November announced that the fine for seven traffic violation including speed driving and overtaking from the wrong side — a key cause of accidents — would be raised to Rs. 25,000 ($166) following a sharp rise in the number of accidents per year.
Bus drivers and tuk tuk drivers had launched an island wide strike protesting the hefty fines after which the government assured they would discuss the matter further.
AFP reported that official figures showed 2,817 people were killed in road accidents last year in Sri Lanka, which has a population of over 20 million.
Almost 100,000 people are critically wounded in road accidents each year, causing a heavy burden on the state-run hospitals.