A file photo of Udupi-based private bus operator, Sri Lakshmi Express. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Hundreds of general public, including PUC students in remote areas around Mandarthi and Hebri in Udupi district were put to great hardship as Sri Lakshmi Express, a private bus service, stopped operations following its owner’s death on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). Nonagenarian M. Vittal Shetty founded Sri Lakshmi Express, and operated out of Mandarthi. Following his death on March 17, a few social media posts announced that the buses operated by him would be off the roads that day. Published – March 17, 2026 01:14 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Cooking in LPG crisis: Hyderabad’s kitchens adapt, but at a ‘cost’ Rajinikanth debunks TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna’s claim on the actor refraining from politics