KOCHI: An 18-year-old biker, who was allegedly racing with two other bikes, was killed after his bike rammed a KSRTC bus on MC Road on Monday. The bus caught fire in the accident and all the 44 passengers had a miraculous escape.The deceased has been identified as Anup Alex, a resident of Kottarakkara. Police said that the twowheeler, which rammed the bus, was a high-end bike.The accident occurred on MC Road at Maradi Pallikavala in Muvattupuzha at 3.30 pm. KSRTC officials said the bus which was heading towards Kottayam from Thrissur was fully gutted.“The speeding bike rammed the bus and went under it. The rider was thrown off the bike in the impact of collision. Petrol from the twowheeler got leaked and the skidding bike created sparks, which caused fire. Sensing the smell of the smoke billowing out, the driver immediately opened the automatic pneumatic doors to facilitate the passengers to disembark. Within few minutes, the bus was engulfed in flames,” said Saju K T, controlling inspector, Muvattupuzha KSRTC depot.Fire and rescue personnel from Muvattupuzha reached the spot and doused the flames. Though local residents and police rushed Anup to Government Medical College, Kottayam, he succumbed to his injuries.Police said that the bike was on the wrong side. The passengers were taken to Kottayam in another bus.“We noticed three highend bikes coming at high speed from the opposite direction. Seeing the speed of the bikes, passengers sitting on the front seats screamed and many of them put their hands on the head. The accident occurred when the bike overtook vehicles in front and rammed the bus. The front impact bumper bar of the bus got damaged in the collision and we found it difficult to tow it to the depot,” said Twinson K M, conductor of the bus.Two other bikes, which were allegedly involved in the racing, did not stop and are yet to be traced by police.

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