Booked for Coimbatore, dropped midway before dawn; complaint emerges against KSRTC

Kozhikode: Two students from Kozhikode have alleged that they were forced to get off a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Super Deluxe Air Bus midway through their journey to Coimbatore, after the vehicle was found to lack the necessary interstate permit.

The incident took place at around 4.30 am on November 10, when the bus reached Mannarkkad in Palakkad district. The students, Asina and Ashwini Krishna, were travelling to Coimbatore, where they are pursuing teacher training courses.

Students booked seats from Kasaragod

According to the students, they had booked seats on November 9 for a journey from Kasaragod to Coimbatore, anticipating heavy passenger traffic. Although they boarded the bus at Kozhikode, they were asked to get off when it reached Mannarkkad.

The students alleged that the bus staff told passengers that the vehicle did not have an interstate permit to continue towards Coimbatore. They were asked to board another bus to complete their journey.

Permit issue leaves passengers stranded

The students said KSRTC officials had informed the driver and conductor that the bus assigned to the service did not have an interstate permit but that the necessary clearance would be obtained by the time it reached Mannarkkad.

However, the permit was not secured, forcing the bus to terminate its journey at Mannarkkad, they alleged.

When the students questioned the decision, the driver and conductor reportedly said they were unaware of the matter and asked them to contact higher authorities.

The students further alleged that they were made to continue their journey on an ordinary bus that did not even have vacant seats.

They said they would file complaints with the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister over the incident.