Mystery over sabotage attempts at Pathanamthitta school bus, driver's prompt act saves children, Police begin probe

A high school in Pathanamthitta is grappling with a disturbing mystery following two shocking attempts to meddle with the steering and fuel system of the school bus by unknown people, putting children's lives at risk. The acts have triggered unease among the authorities of St. George High School, Elakollur, in Pathanamthitta.

“I lost control of the bus, but if I hadn’t managed to stop it by hitting the brake, it would have been catastrophic,” recalls driver Anil, his voice still tense. “Someone had added iron powder and liquid soap into the power steering oil tank. The steering jammed completely,” says Aby Philip, a teacher at the school. The problem surfaced the next morning, when Anil drove the vehicle.

“I found that the steering wouldn’t turn. Later, the mechanic discovered the oil tank had been contaminated,” says Anil. Repairs cost the school between ₹1.5 and 2 lakh, and the bus was sent for a complete overhaul.

On the night of October 26, the attackers struck again. “This time, the hose connected to the power steering pump was loosened, and the belt had clear scratch marks from a sharp object,” Aby says. Luckily, the damage was spotted before the bus was taken out. “We would have lost control again if it had gone on the road,” he adds.

Anil shudders to imagine what might have happened if they hadn’t noticed it early. “The first time, the children were inside when the steering jammed. I somehow managed to stop the bus using the brake. I couldn’t completely control it, but it stopped. Luckily, nothing happened to the kids,” he says with relief.

In September, someone broke into the staff room. Nothing was stolen, though expensive new fans and equipment were lying unopened. “They just made a big mess of the room," says Jisha Varghese, the principal-in-charge of the school. No one imagined then that it was the beginning of something more alarming.

After the first incident, the school replaced the damaged oil tank and scheduled another inspection. “Before the bus went for the final testing, the mechanics said they’d do one last check. That’s when we found the second instance of tampering. From the outside, everything looked fine,” Jisha explains.

The repeated targeting has led to intense suspicion and unease within the campus. Jisha admits that a recent dispute between a school employee and the office staff may have created internal tensions. “There was a personal issue between them, and the office staff was threatened by some outsiders. But we don’t know if that has anything to do with the bus incidents,” she says. The employee in question is currently on leave.

Driver Anil also remembers finding strange items near the bus after the first sabotage attempt: a screwdriver, a hat, and a bottle. At that time, he brushed it off. “I thought someone might have come here in a drunken state or something,” he says. Only later did the full picture emerge when the power steering failed.

The school management says it had no previous disputes or security issues before these incidents. The fact that the tampering was so precise has raised suspicions that someone with knowledge of vehicle mechanics was behind it. “The people who did this clearly knew how the bus works,” says Panchayat member MK Manoj. “This isn’t a prank. It’s a criminal act that endangers children’s lives.”

Manoj adds that there was an initial lapse on the part of the police. “After the first incident, the school informed the Konni Police, but no investigation was done. It was only after the second attempt, when the school complained to the MLA and District Police Chief, that the DySP got involved,” he says.

Following the PTA’s intervention, Konni DySP G Ajaynath and a police team visited the school and launched an inquiry. “A case has been registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. We are examining CCTV footage from the school and nearby areas,” Ajaynath confirmed to Onmanorama.

However, the school’s own CCTV cameras, positioned far from the parking area, captured no clear evidence. Manoj says a clerk and a sweeper live on the campus, but the incidents occurred on weekends when most staff were away. “It seems like someone who knew the campus layout did this,” he adds.

Teachers and parents are now demanding stronger action and round-the-clock security. “This was not a school that ever had issues. Whoever did this wanted to cause harm,” Manoj says.