RTC driver dies in harness, but saves passengers on board

Nalgonda: Setting an example for others the duty comes first than self, an RTC bus driver who suddenly suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel saved tens of passengers in the last moments of his life by halting the vehicle aside the road.

The incident took place at Akkinenigudem of Chandur mandal in the district on Sunday morning.

According to fellow drivers, Vishnu, the driver who was going to retire on Tuesday, following the directions of his superior Chief Inspector Lavanya, was engaged in duty of Gundrapally night halt bus on January 28.

While returning from Gundrapalli to Nalgonda, he suffered chest pain near Salkanur village. Keeping in mind the safety of passengers, he managed to stop the bus aside and collapsed.

Alerted passengers and bus conductor tried to shift him to hospital. However, he already breathed his last. Passengers of the bus lauded the commitment of the driver in saving their lives during his last journey.

Speaking to media, some passengers described him as a real hero and expressed their concern over his demise.

When the body of Vishnu reached Nalgonda bus stand, his colleagues raised slogans against CI Lavanya, who rejected his leave application, and demanded to suspend her alleging she was solely responsible for driver Vishnu's death.

Later, local MLA Komatireddy Venkatreddy, who was on Nalgonda tour rushed to the bus stand and extended his support to the agitating drivers.

When Komatireddy contacted RTC RM Vijaykumar over phone, Vijaykumar said an inquiry would be launched into the incident and appropriate action would be taken against the responsible persons.

Speaking to media, colleagues of Vishnu showed the leave letter kept in the shirt pocket of Vishnu and demanded stringent action against Chief Inspector Lavanya to avoid similar incidents in future. They later halted all the buses in Nalgonda bus stand.