An empty private college bus was gutted near Thiruvalluvar University at Sekkadu village near Katpadi in Vellore on Saturday.
 
Police said that K. Palani (60) was the driver of the bus, which belongs to a private arts and science college for women at Vilapakkam village in Ranipet, for the past seven years. He used to park the bus in a vacant plot near the University after he drops students at the pick up points every day. Later, he returns to his house in Thimiri town near Arcot in a two-wheeler.

Likewise, he dropped around 60 students, who come from the area to the college, before he parked the bus on the open plot on Friday. Around 11.30 a.m on Saturday, a few passerby noticed smoke coming from the locked bus.
 
Immediately, they alerted Tiruvalam police, who rushed to the spot along with firefighters from Katpadi. Before they could douse the fire, the vehicle was completely gutted.
 
Police said that an electrical short circuit might be the reason for the accident. A case has been registered by Tiruvalam police. A probe is underway.