Bhubaneswar: Showing his presence of mind and quick action, a bus driver saved the lives of more than 40 passengers onboard after experiencing a heart attack in Odisha’s Khurda district on Saturday.
As per sources, the private bus from Bhubaneswar to Bhanjanagar had left the bus stand at Bolagarh in the afternoon when its driver apparently suffered a heart attack. Swift action by the driver in bringing the bus to a halt safed the passenger, the driver, but he passed away shortly after that.
The bus had moved barely 500 metres from Bolagarh on National Highway-57 when the driver, Sarata Martha, suddenly felt severe chest pain. Realising something was wrong, Martha immediately switched off the ignition and safely parked the bus on the roadside, preventing a possible mishap. However, he collapsed from his seat after seconds.
Passengers and staff rushed him to the Community Health Centre Centre (CHC) in Bolagarh in an autorickshaw. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Martha’s quick thinking and dedication have drawn widespread praise from locals and passengers alike. Even in the face of a fatal heart attack, his timely action ensured over 40 passengers on board were safe.