Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Jul 23: In an unusual incident that caused a stir in Nellore district, a bus belonging to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) was stolen early Wednesday, only to be recovered hours later after a swift police operation.

The incident unfolded when a ‘Palle Velugu’ bus from Atmakur depot, which had completed its night route to Nellore town, went missing from the bus stand. The driver, Jeelani, had parked the bus and stepped away briefly to use the restroom. When he returned in the morning to resume duty, the vehicle had vanished.

Startled, Jeelani immediately alerted APSRTC officials, who filed a formal complaint with the police. Investigators quickly swung into action, scanning CCTV footage from various checkpoints. Surveillance cameras caught the bus passing through the Bucchireddypalem toll gate, setting the stage for a targeted pursuit.

The police eventually intercepted the stolen vehicle near Nellorepalem Circle, approximately 50 kilometres away, and arrested the driver-turned-thief. He was identified as B. Krishna, a resident of Kancherla village in Vidavalur mandal. Authorities are currently questioning him to determine the motive behind the theft.

Interestingly, this isn't a first for Andhra Pradesh. In 2002, a similar theft occurred in Vizianagaram district, where a man stole a student-special APSRTC bus simply to get home.

In that case, the thief, Chowdary Suresh, admitted to taking the unattended bus from Vangara mandal after failing to find transport. Police located the vehicle several hours later in Meesala Dolapeta. Suresh, reportedly inebriated at the time, confessed that he hadn’t intended any harm—just a ride.

While no passengers were involved in either incident, the bizarre nature of such bus thefts continues to baffle officials and spark questions about security lapses at public transport hubs in the state.