A person has died after a bus transporting a group of pilgrims caught fire early this morning (22) near a rest house close to the Jetavanaramaya in Anuradhapura.

The fire broke out while the travelers were staying at the rest house, engulfing the bus they arrived in during the early hours.

The Anuradhapura Municipal Council Fire Brigade, along with local police, managed to extinguish the flames, but the bus was completely destroyed.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.