The bus, which had been transporting a group of pilgrims from Gampola to Anuradhapura, is believed to have caught fire due to an unexpected mechanical fault. Police confirmed that 11 passengers were on board at the time, but all managed to escape without injury.
Officers from the Police and the Anuradhapura Municipal Council Fire Brigade responded promptly and were able to extinguish the fire. However, the bus had already been entirely engulfed in flames and was completely destroyed.
