Six people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed and seven others injured after a cab crashed into a crowd waiting in line at a Vesak dansala near Meegoda Junction on Sunday night.

Police said the accident occurred on High Level Road when the vehicle, travelling from Avissawella towards Colombo, veered into a group of devotees standing in a queue at the dansala.

All 13 victims were admitted to Homagama Hospital, where three men and three women, aged between 15 and 56, were pronounced dead due to their injuries.

The driver, a 42-year-old resident of Piliyandala, was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee the scene, and investigations revealed that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Police are continuing investigations into the fatal incident.