The Ernakulam Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has suspended the permits of 28 private buses operated from different parts of the city to Kakkanad.

The action by the RTA headed by the District Collector comes in the wake of their lightning strike in November 2025. The charges against the bus operators concerned include violation of permit regulations, embarking on strike without issuing notice, and leaving passengers stranded at different places.

The Motor Vehicles department (MVD) had submitted to the RTA a recommendation to suspend their permits following the lightning strike. The strike was reportedly called after a dispute with MVD officials who were deployed on enforcement duty.