KSRTC bus services to Coimbatore hit

PALAKKAD: The KSRTC services from Palakkad to Coimbatore were again disrupted on Sunday evening after three buses were stoned by miscreants near Coimbatore and Palani. Following this, the Palakkad depot authorities decided to suspend the services.The trade unions served a notice stating that they will not run the buses as the lives of the employees  are in danger. The first KSRTC bus from Palakkad to Coimbatore was stoned at Chavadi. The driver V Krishnan suffered injuries from glass splinters. The other KSRTC buses were stoned in Coimbatore and Palani.  The KSRTC officials said that the buses were attacked on Sunday when they  were operating on convoy basis. Ever since tension began to mount over the Mullaperiyar issue, the KSRTC buses had been operating as convoys to Coimbatore and back resulting in huge losses.District transport officer K Vijayakumar told ‘Express’ that no KSRTC buses will conduct services since the trade unions have served a notice stating that the lives of the employees are at risk. Earlier it was decided not to operate the services to Tamil Nadu but it was resumed on Friday after the district administration and the superintendent of police promised that the Kerala buses will be given protection by the Tamil Nadu police.  Vijayakumar said that two KSRTC buses had stopped at K G Chavadi police station in Tamil Nadu to register cases, but the police were reluctant to do so and directed the bus crew to return to Palakkad. Meanwhile, the K G Chavadi police station officials denied any incidents of stone pelting.The KSRTC officials said that the buses were attacked on Sunday when they were operating on convoy basis. Ever since tension began to mount over the Mullaperiyar issue, the KSRTC buses had been operating as convoys to Coimbatore and back resulting in huge losses.