Daijiworld Media Network- Beltangady (RJP)

Beltangady, Mar 15: A mobile phone in a driver’s pocket exploded in a moving bus on Tuesday, March 14 at Alake near Madanthyar. Driver Sandesh (23) was injured in the incident, but timely action by him saved the passengers from further dangers.

As per details available, the private bus named ‘Shiva Kripa’ was moving towards Uppinangadi from Madanthyar. The bus stopped at a bus stop near Alake to let the passengers to get down. When the bus moved ahead slowly, a sudden explosion of mobile phone in driver’s pocket took place. Fire was seen in his shirt. Passengers were clueless as to what had happened and started panicking.

Sandesh stopped the bus without losing control, took out his burning shirt and threw it away. Hence the passengers were saved and damage to the bus was averted. But the mobile which fell down in the bus started burning. Sandesh then poured water from a bucket kept behind the driver’s seat.

Bus conductor Chetan said the battery got completely burnt.

Another driver, travelling in the bus, drove the bus and took Sandesh to a hospital.

Sandesh has sustained some burn injuries. He has also experienced some pain in his eyes.

It is said that Sandesh bought the smartphone from Intex company for Rs 5900 a year back and he was happy with it. As he could not charge the mobile in the bus, he charged it fully before leaving for work every morning.

Passengers have praised Sandesh for his alertness and timely action. Sandesh has been a bus driver for the past 5 years.