Alert conductor averts accident as driver faints at the wheel

A BMTC bus conductor’s presence of mind averted a possible accident at the busy NES junction in Yelahanka, northern Bengaluru, on Sunday. The conductor, Dadapeer, quickly applied handbrake to stop the bus after the driver, Subhash, fainted at the wheel.

The incident occurred around 12.30 pm when Subhash was driving the bus from Yelahanka New Town to Kempegowda Bus Stand. As the bus neared NES junction, Subhash passed out and collapsed at the wheel. Dadapeer, who was quick to notice this, rushed to the driver’s seat and applied handbrake to stop the bus. Still, the bus went on to rear-end a car, a police officer said.

Dadapeer recounted the incident to DH, “The bus was crowded. I was issuing tickets when I noticed a sudden change in the bus movement. I saw Subhash collapse at the wheel. I rushed there and applied the handbrake. The bus would have caused a major accident had it not stopped.”

Suresh Babu, a passenger, said there was commotion in the bus as it started moving in zigzags. Women passengers sitting near the driver’s seat raised an alarm, but the conductor stopped the bus and controlled the situation.

The traffic police also arrived at the spot. Dadapeer, the car driver and a few passengers helped the police take Subhash to hospital. Passengers continued their journey by other buses.

The traffic police seized the bus since it was involved in an accident, though the car driver didn’t want to lodge a complaint. Police said they would take Subhash’s statement once he recovered. Doctors suspect Subhash suffered a cardiac arrest.