KSRTC Driver who saved 60 passengers win medal
On Sunday, around 60 people on board a Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus had a narrow escape when the vehicle went out of control and crashed into the iron barricade at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Hill). On Tuesday, KSRTC awarded the driver of the bus a gold medal for his presence of mind that saved many lives.
A KSRTC bus attached to Gundlupet depot was having trouble while coming down from the hilltop. The driver, Chinnaswamy M (inset), lost control of the bus while negotiating a curve. The driver then tried his best to control the bus and saved 60 passengers.
It has been KSRTC policy to only operate mini buses at Gopalaswamy Betta due to the bad condition of road. But, on Sunday, KSRTC decided to operate a normal bus because of a higher number of passengers.
Chinnaswamy M, the driver, said “It was around 2 pm when the bus left the hilltop with 60 passengers. While coming down, I found out that the bus was not in my control because the brakes were not working properly.”
“I did not inform the passengers so that they don’t panic. I decided to handle it myself. By the time I reach the third curve, the bus was performing poorly and it was getting difficult to control it. I knew that 60 lives were at stake and decided to drive the bus to the left towards the iron barricade. The bus slowed down after coming in contact with the barricade and I immediately applied the handbrake and brought the bus to a standstill. The passengers then got off the bus safely,” Chinnaswamy added.
As per KSRTC rules, gold medals will be award only to those drivers who have an accident-free record for almost 15 years in rural areas and seven years in city limits. But Chinnaswamy, who has completed only five years of services in KSRTC, was considered a special case and awarded a gold medal for his presence of mind that saved 60 passengers.
“The department has considered this a special case and awarded me a gold medal. I feel very encouraged to continue my work,” Chinnaswamy said.
“The incident happened only because of the bad roads and improper retaining walls and barricades. This made driving a normal bus on the road difficult. In the future, only mini buses will be operated to Gopalaswamy Betta,” a KSRTC official said.
