KOTTAYAM: An elderly woman was insulted and denied ticket by a KSRTC conductor in Kottayam on Monday. The conductor allegedly refused to issue ticket to the place that was supposed to be the destination of the bus, even after the woman repeatedly pleaded that since her eyesight was poor she would find it difficult to get a connecting bus halfway.
Ammini, 75, who hails from Pullikkanam near Wagamon, asked for ticket to Wagamon onboard the Wagamon-bound KSRTC bus (RAC 482 of the Erattupetta depot) that left Kottayam at 12.30 pm on Monday. The conductor after consulting the driver advised her to buy ticket to Erattupetta as there would be a half-hour halt there. Ammini said since she had undergone a cataract surgery it would be difficult for her to catch a connecting bus from Erattupetta. Hence, she suggested that she would stay in the bus during the halt at Erattupetta. However, the conductor turned down her request, and issued a ticket to Erattupetta, citing that the onward trip might be cancelled it the bus reaches Erattupetta late. When contacted, KSRTC district transport officer M S Jayamohan said the crew is not authorised to cancel trip without any legitimate reason.