Palakkad, Kerala: An unidentified man allegedly drove away a KSRTC bus that had been parked near the Palakkad depot after completing its service, leaving employees stunned.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when a man wearing a white shirt reportedly got behind the wheel of the bus and drove off while staff members looked on. The bus, which operates on the Palakkad–Thrissur route, was later found abandoned near Mangalam Tower in front of the town bus stand.

The bus, bearing registration number RNE 857, had completed its town-to-town service and returned to Palakkad around 9.30 pm on Saturday. After undergoing a routine inspection by the mechanical section, it was parked on the roadside outside the depot near a liquor outlet.

During the unauthorised ride, the bus was driven recklessly and reportedly crashed into multiple structures, including a biryani shop and a wall, causing damage.

The suspect has not yet been identified. The Palakkad Town South Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the area to trace the person responsible.