Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 27: Showing exemplary presence of mind, the conductor of a private bus plying to the city from Shivamogga saved lives of a number of passengers travelling by his bus.

The bus, which had started from Shivamogga on Tuesday June 26, was passing through Mandagadde Gajanur Tunga River backwaters road at around 12 pm when the driver suddenly suffered from giddiness. The bus started to erratically move to the left of the road and was facing danger, when conductor of the bus, identified as Bhagwan from Thirthahalli who sensed grave danger, immediately turned the steering to the right and saved lives of the bus passengers. If he had not acted on time, the bus would have plunged into the river.

Before that, a few, out of anxiety, had hopped out of the bus and suffered minor injuries. A couple of passengers had broken open the glass windows in order to jump out, but by then the bus had safely been brought on the road. The passengers were saved as the conductor knew the nuances of driving. They profusely thanked the conductor for saving their lives.

It is gathered that the regular driver of the bus was on leave on Tuesday, and hence it was being driven by another driver, Afsar. Bhagwan said he noticed that Afsar was suffering from giddiness and he instantly moved forward and turned the steering wheel to save the bus and its passengers. He acknowledged that if otherwise, a major accident would have happened.

He stated that he later sent the passengers of the bus through other buses.