Bus crew drives back 8km to admit passenger to hospital in Karnataka

TUMAKURU: Timely action by a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus driver and conductor helped save the life of a senior passenger who suffered severe convulsions and fell unconscious in their vehicle on Thursday.
The bus was heading from Shivamogga to Bengaluru and had crossed Tiptur, when 65-year-old Ishwar Reddy got seizures. He bit his tongue and fell unconscious around 1.30pm.As his wife Gowramma panicked and started crying, the conductor informed the driver about the incident. The bus turned back and the patient was taken to the taluk government hospital in Tiptur, Tumakuru district.
At the hospital, the patient was treated with intravenous fluids and medicines and later discharged.
"The patient was unconscious when he was brought to the hospital. He was on treatment for other ailments. Due to the sudden onset of convulsions, he fell unconscious. His life would have been at risk if he had continued the journey and hadn't been brought to the hospital in time by the KSRTC staff," administrative medical officer of Tiptur taluk government hospital Dr Shivakumar NM told TOI.
"Some passengers told us to send the patient by an autorickshaw but we convinced them. We took a decision to travel a distance of 8km and admit him to the hospital," said bus driver Prakash B.
He said they took 30 minutes to reach the hospital and admit the patient.
Conductor Omkar T added, "Our conscience did not permit us to leave the elderly couple in the middle of the road. Eight of the other 49 passengers helped us shift the passenger in a wheelchair to the hospital and admit him."
He said after admitting the patient, the bus resumed its journey to Bengaluru.
Appreciating the crew's life-saving gesture, Bhadravathi depot manager of Shivamogga division Ambika DN told TOI, "I have written to the managing director of KSRTC recommending an award for the driver and the conductor."
Ishwar Reddy's son Ravi Reddy said that the duo's timely action saved his father's life and that the family is grateful to them.