Over 50 Kerala Students Escape Unhurt As Bus Catches Fire Near Kodaikanal

More than 50 students from a government-aided school in Palakkad, Kerala, escaped unhurt after the bus carrying them caught fire near Devadhanapatti in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district while they were returning from a trip to Kodaikanal.

The students had visited Kodaikanal in Dindigul district for a holiday and were travelling back to Kerala via Munnar when the incident occurred near Pullakapatti.

Driver Evacuates Students Before Bus Goes Up In Flames

According to initial reports, a tyre burst as the bus was passing through the area, following which smoke began emerging from the vehicle. The students panicked, but the driver quickly brought the bus to a halt on the roadside and safely evacuated everyone.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the bus within a short time. Attempts to douse the flames using water available on the bus proved unsuccessful, prompting the authorities to alert the fire department.

Firefighters from Periyakulam and Vathalakundu rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after nearly 30 minutes of effort.

Bus Completely Destroyed, Students’ Belongings Burnt

The bus was completely gutted in the fire, while the students’ clothes and other belongings were also reportedly destroyed. Thick smoke spread across the area, causing concern among local residents.

No injuries were reported, as the driver managed to evacuate all the students before the fire intensified.

Police Probe Cause Of Fire

The Devadhanapatti police have launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest that friction following the tyre burst may have triggered the fire, which subsequently spread through the bus’s air-conditioning cylinder.

Police personnel also made arrangements to transport the students safely to Palakkad in an alternative bus.

The incident disrupted vehicular movement in the area for more than an hour as emergency teams worked to extinguish the fire and clear the road.