A Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) inter-state bus plying between Karnataka and Kerala was stranded on a flooded road in Wayanad on Wednesday, due to the heavy rains. The bus that started service from Kozhikode to Bengaluru on Tuesday night, broke down in Sulthan Bathery, after which, the passengers were put on another bus and the journey resumed later.
The KSRTC bus has been taken to the nearest depot for repair work.
— Megha Varier (@varier_megha) August 15, 2018
Following this, KSRTC has cancelled all bus services from Bengaluru to three districts of Kerala, mainly Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasargod. However, a few morning buses from Bengaluru to Kerala have already started.
Meanwhile, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has also cancelled its premium services between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. According to the KSRTC officials, premium services will not operate in Subramanya, Dharmasthala and Kundapur; only express service (Karnataka Sarige) buses via Charmadi to Mangaluru will operate. Also, KSRTC services between Karnataka and Kerala via Salem remain unaffected.
As far as Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) is concerned, no services have been suspended as of now, a KSRTC official confirmed to TNM.
However, the buses that started from parts of Kerala to Bengaluru last night are yet to reach its destination because of the heavy rains and flood, the official said.
At least nine buses are stuck in transit in several places, including Thamarassery and Kuttiadi.
"Many buses are currently stuck in blocks in Thamarassery ghat roads. Most of our buses go through Mysuru route. We are, as of now, unable to give an exact figure of the number of services affected. Nearly eight buses have just reached Payyannur; they were supposed to reach by morning," the official said.
A decision is yet to be taken on whether operations between the two states should be completely suspended, the official added.
Meanwhile, the rain and flood situation in Kerala worsened on Wednesday, with the red alert issued in 12 districts has been extended to all 14 districts of the state. Holiday has been declared on August 16 for all educational institutions, including professional colleges in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.