A KSRTC bus on the Sabarimala pilgrimage route caught fire during the early hours on Sunday.
The incident took place around 5.30 am at the 30th hairpin bend in the forested stretch between Chalakkayam and Nilakkal.
The empty bus was travelling from Pampa to Nilakkal to pick up pilgrims.
The driver noticed smoke and stopped the vehicle.
While the vehicle sustained partial damage, no injuries were reported.
Firefighting teams from Pampa and Nilakkal responded swiftly to extinguish the blaze.
Devaswom Board member A Ajikumar visited the site, following the incident.
In another incident, Kerala Police on Saturday confirmed the presence of the Kuruva gang in Alappuzha, which was suspected to be active during the annual Sabarimala Mandala Pooja season.
The gang primarily hails from Tamil Nadu. And historically operated during the pilgrimage season, said Alappuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Madhu Babu MR, while addressing a press conference.
Locals and pilgrims have been advised to be vigilant, noting that he dealt with similar cases during previous Sabarimala seasons.
“The sheer volume of vehicles and travellers during the season makes it difficult to conduct thorough checks during night patrols,” he said.
The police are currently working on a suspect’s sketch based on initial leads.
Babu explained the gang’s modus operandi: “They typically conduct reconnaissance during the day to observe potential targets. They prefer houses with minimal security, fewer family members, and casual locks.”
The cop added that the gang reportedly operates in groups, staying near railway stations such as Ambalappuzha and Kayamkulam and later splitting into smaller teams to carry out robberies.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that a Kuruva gang member escaped police custody on Saturday at Kundannur in Ernakulam.
The accused, identified as Santosh, a native of Tamil Nadu, was being transported by Mannanchery police from Alappuzha after his arrest in Ernakulam.
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