Sabarimala unrest: KSRTC suspends services to Kerala
We are waiting for the Kerala police department to provide clearance. As soon as we get it the services will be resumed.
Bengaluru: While Kerala was facing a day long hartal on Thursday called by several pro-Hindutva groups to protest against the entry of two women in Sabarimala shrine, stones were pelted at a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Airavat bus at Kaniyapuram in Thiruvananthapuram. As a precautionary measure KSRTC has stopped all its services to Kerala.
A passenger suffered minor injury due to stone pelting and the bus windshield was shattered.
KSRTC officials said protests at several locations in Kerala may affect passengers travelling to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Passengers are requested to schedule their travel plans accordingly.
“Traders' organizations and firms operating in the tourism sector in Kerala have announced their decision to boycott Thursday's bandh call, but it is very difficult for our corporation to operate services because most of the buses which ply to Kerala are high-end club class services, so the damage is huge. As soon as one of our buses was attacked in Thiruvananthapuram, we immediately said told our drivers to stay off the road, keeping in mind the safety of passengers and the bus,” a senior KSRTC official told Deccan Chronicle.
The Corporation confirmed that apart from Bangaluru, bus services from Mangalore to Kerala and other divisions were also cancelled due to protests.
"We have cancelled almost 92 scheduled buses, which covers 29,120 kilometres and the revenue loss is Rs 10.16 lakh for a day. We are waiting for the Kerala police department to provide clearance. As soon as we get it the services will be resumed. Till then passengers will have to cooperate,” an official explained.