Police comes to the aid of teenager to stop bus at midnight

KOZHIKODE: A 17-yearold girl, travelling in a stateowned bus had a harrowing time past midnight after the crew refused to stop the vehicle at nearby Payyoli, her home town, saying it was a limited stop service.

It was only thanks to police help that the frightened teenager alighted from the bus at Chombala, about 20 km away and joined her waiting father in the wee hours on Saturday.

As the incident drew media attention, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation on Sunday sought a report.

“Executive Director (Vigilance) has been asked to file a report,” A Hemachandran, Chairman and Managing Director of KSRTC said.

Police said the girl was travelling from Pala in Kottayam district in central Kerala to Payyoli in northern Kozhikode after attending medical entrance coaching.

Though she thought she could alight at Payyoli, the conductor refused,saying it was a ‘minnal’ (lightning) service and there was only one stop in each district it traversed. Despite her repeated pleas that it was past midnight and her anxious father was waiting,the crew did not budge and said she could get down at Kannur, about 30 km away from Payyoli. The girl informed her father, who sought police help to stop the vehicle.

A police officer from there chased and overtook the bus, forcing the driver to stop.