Tirupati, Mar 4 (IANS): As many as 69 passengers of a bus had a narrow escape as the bus driver suffered cardiac arrest while driving the vehicle in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district on Friday.

One of the passengers showed presence of mind and controlled the steering to avert a tragedy, officials said.

The incident occurred when the bus of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) was on its way from Tirupati to Madanapalle.

According to APSRTC officials, the bus was on the national highway between Puthalapattu and Naidupeta. When the bus reached near Agarala village, the driver suffered massive cardiac arrest and collapsed.

One of the passengers quickly took control of the steering and stopped the bus on the roadside, thus averting a major tragedy. However, driver Ravi succumbed to cardiac arrest.

On receiving information about the incident, Chandragiri police rushed to the scene and shifted the driver's body in an ambulance. The APSRTC officials made alternate arrangements to help passengers reach their destination.