Passengers were left drenched as rainwater seeped through the roof of the TNSTC bus

A TNSTC bus leaked rainwater near Melur in Madurai on Tuesday.

Passengers on board a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus in Madurai while traveling from Melur to Sekkipatti on Tuesday had to cover their heads as rainwater seeped inside from several holes in the bus roof.

The TNSTC bus started from Melur bus stand around 6 pm and within minutes it started raining outside, said Jeeva, a passenger from Kesampatti. As the rain continued for about 10 minutes, water started leaking from some holes in the roof and window corners.

As the rain got heavier, water started coming out of all the holes. The passengers, who initially got up from their seats to avoid getting wet, were left with no choice but to cover their heads before they became completely drenched, he added.

While older passengers covered their heads with shawls and hands, mothers covered their toddlers with their sarees and shawls. The incident was just a taste of what was to come when the northeast monsoon began in mid-October. A similar problem existed with TNSTC buses plying on routes like Sekkipatti, Sirukudi and Kunnarampatti

“At least some repair work to prevent leakage in buses should be carried out before the onset of northeast monsoon as thousands of people from villages depend on government buses only,” he said.