Thiruvananthapuram: Three buses were gutted in a fire at Trivandrum Scottish School in Chenkottukonam in the early hours of Monday. Units from the Kazhakootam and Chackai fire stations rushed to the spot and doused the flames.

The Fire and Rescue team received an alert around 2.30 am. "After hearing noises, residents alerted us. A unit each from the Kazhakootam and Chackai fire stations reached the spot and began dousing the flames, but a major portion of the buses had already been burned," a Fire and Rescue Services official from the Kazhakootam station said.

"Two school buses and a traveller were gutted. The flames were spreading to a fourth bus, but we managed to douse them in time. The bus sustained minor damage to its windows," the official added. "According to the security guard, the traveller had been parked opposite the two buses for the night. However, when we reached the spot, it had moved towards the other buses, and the fire appeared to have started from the traveller. It seems someone might have pushed it," the official told Onmanorama. The firefighting operations were concluded at 4.30 am.

Neighbours and residents who noticed the blaze alerted the school authorities, police and fire force. Although fire units reached the spot promptly, all three vehicles were completely destroyed. The blaze was contained before it could spread further. The Kazhakootam police have launched a probe into the incident.