In a tragic event in Sri Lanka, seven Buddhist monks, including three foreigners, died when their cable car fell from a mountain slope in the northwest of the island. Local police reported the incident, citing eyewitness accounts.
The accident occurred late Wednesday evening as the monks were traveling in an overcrowded car to meditation sites atop a mountain at the renowned Na Uyana Buddhist monastery.
"The cable car was carrying 13 monks. Two managed to escape with minor injuries, while four others are in critical condition," a police representative stated.
Among the deceased were monks from India, Russia, and Romania.
Initial reports suggest that the car began to roll down the slope rapidly due to a cable snap, derailed, and crashed into a tree.
The monastery where this tragic incident occurred is located approximately 130 kilometers northeast of the capital city, Colombo.