Thrissur: A KSRTC bus driver who stopped his bus at Paliyekkara and walked away was later found hanging from a tree on the bank of the Manali River. The deceased is Babu (45), a native of Chathamangalam, Nenmara, in Palakkad district.

The incident came to light on Sunday morning when Babu’s body was found beneath the Manali bridge. According to reports, on Saturday at around 3.30 pm, Babu stopped the KSRTC bus near the Paliyekkara toll plaza. Citing health issues, he handed the conductor the key and alighted from the bus.

Soon after getting down, Babu reportedly ran towards the Manali bridge area and threw his mobile phone away. The conductor and some passengers followed him, but he could not be located. The passengers were later shifted to another bus by the conductor, and the bus was moved to the Puthukkad depot.

Following a complaint, Puthukkad police launched a search, in which Babu’s relatives also joined. During the search, his mobile phone was found near the Manali bridge. On Sunday morning, his body was found hanging from a tree close to the bridge. Fire and Rescue Services personnel retrieved the body.

Police reached the spot and shifted the body to the Puthukkad Government Taluk Hospital for postmortem examination.

The reason for Babu’s sudden action remains unclear. Unmarried, Babu was employed at the Vadakkencherry depot in Palakkad district.