The Kozhikode zone of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has resumed all its inter-district and inter-State services despite the huge loss it suffered in attacks during the hartal called by the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samiti.
In the heavy stone-throwing, at least 17 buses were damaged, causing a loss of around ₹1 crore to the corporation. This was in addition to the loss incurred following the sudden cancellation of some local and long-distance services.
KSRTC officials said the police had registered at least 15 cases in Kozhikode district alone in connection with attacks on buses. A majority of cases were registered within the jurisdiction of the Kozhikode City Police, they added.
According to the police, the attackers had targeted three buses in Kunnamangalam. Inter-State and inter-district services too were not spared.
It was a motorcycle gang who allegedly threw stones at a few Scania buses, damaging their windshields, they said, adding that the attackers were still at large.
Though some passengers and a few local residents were witnesses to the early morning attacks last Thursday, they could not identify the miscreants. The police said the gang members who had blocked the vehicles had worn helmets, and that they had fled from the spot within minutes of the attack.
A KSRTC official said the corporation managed to immediately repair most damaged buses utilising its own funds as cancellation of inter-State services was hardly an option. For replacing a single damaged windshield, the corporation had to spent around ₹20,000 including labour charge, he said, adding that a similar pro-active step had been taken to manage post-flood repair expenses.