The timely intervention of a group of passengers aboard a KSRTC long-distance bus, stranded late at night due to a flat tyre, turned what could have been hours of delay into a swift and coordinated resolution.

The KSRTC Super Deluxe Air Bus, operating from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram, stopped near Kolappuram Angadi in Malappuram district around 10:30 pm due to a flat tyre. The bus crew informed the stranded passengers that the Edappal depot had been alerted and that a team of KSRTC mechanics would arrive within two to three hours to fix the issue. The passengers were also told that those in an emergency could try to board any other KSRTC buses passing by.

Unwilling to wait for hours by the roadside at night, passengers suggested calling a local mechanic to speed up the process. However, the bus crew explained they had no authority to spend money on such repairs outside the official protocol. Determined not to be delayed, the passengers quickly offered to pool money to fund the repair. Local residents also joined the effort.

A tyre mechanic from a shop at Kakkad Kachadi was brought in. On inspection, the mechanic found that a nail had pierced the tube, causing the flat, and he recommended replacing the damaged tube.

Within minutes, the passengers collected ₹1,300, and a second-hand tube was purchased and installed for ₹1,000. A minor issue with the wheel clamp was also fixed, and the bus resumed its journey shortly after.