Daijiworld Media Network – Chamarajanagar (SP)

Chamarajanagar, Sep 2: A driver from Hubli Eshwaranagar, identified as Abdulla, showed exemplary presence of mind, conviction and courage in discharging his duties as the driver of a tempo traveller van, in saving the lives of the passengers. At the end however, he lost his life. The driver of another vehicle involved with this incident also deserved full credit.

Some panchayat members from north Karnataka had undertaken a tour of Ooty in Tamil Nadu in two tempo traveller vehicles. When the vehicle was negotiating steep bends of the ghat road in Ooty on return trip, the vehicle, KA 25 D 1408, suffered brake failure. The vehicle was near the 15th bend on Kallatti-Masanagudi ghat section near Ooty. Abdulla, driver of this vehicle, contacted the driver of other tempo traveller (KA25 D4641), which was moving ahead, and informed him about the brake failure. He was aware that the vehicles were approaching a steep hairpin bend ahead, which posed grave danger to the lives of the passengers as negotiating it without facing any danger was impossible.

The driver of the other vehicle instantly came up with a plan to avert the tragedy. He immediately stopped the vehicle, asked all the passengers to alight, and placed the vehicle across the road. He asked Abdulla to try to hit the other vehicle as slow as possible. Abdulla, who did as advised, however died on the spot, as he could not regulate the speed of the vehicle to minimum.

Four passengers of the backside vehicle suffered serious injuries, while the others survived with minor nicks and cuts. All of them were admitted to a government hospital nearby, policemen said.