3 school buses gutted, sabotage suspected

T'puram: Two school buses and a traveller were gutted in a fire that broke out at Trivandrum Scottish School in Chenkottukonam in the early hours of Monday, with police suspecting possible sabotage.Fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot after receiving an alert around 2.30am. By the time the blaze was brought under control, the vehicles were completely destroyed, while a fourth bus sustained minor damage.
Locals alerted authorities after hearing unusual noises from the school premises. According to officials, the fire appeared to have originated from the traveller, which was parked separately from the buses. "The security guard informed us that the traveller had been parked about 10m away from the other buses. But when we reached the scene, it was found rammed into one of the buses. It appeared to have moved from its original position, raising suspicion that someone might have pushed or driven it," police said.The school management alleged foul play, stating that the traveller might have been deliberately driven and collided with the parked buses. Fire officials said there was no immediate indication that the blaze was caused due to any mechanical failure. A forensic examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire. The absence of CCTV cameras in the affected area is a major challenge to probe. Police have registered a case and began a probe. TNN