Over the last couple of days, Kottayam and Idukki districts in Kerala witnessed three heart-warming incidents in which timely intervention by bus staff and railway police personnel saved three lives.

Private bus staff to the rescue
The first incident took place at Nagampadom in Kottayam town around 2 pm on Monday. Kishore and Indu of Parakkal in Ponkunnam were travelling from Medical College on ‘Devamatha’, a private bus plying on the Kuruppanthara-Kottayam route, with their one-year-old child Daksha.

As the bus approached Nagampadom, the baby developed breathing problems, and by the time it arrived at the Nagampadom bus stand, Daksha had displayed no signs of movement. Sharath, the conductor of the bus, noticed the baby’s plight and immediately alerted the driver, Biju Kuttan, who rushed from the bus stand to the District Hospital and reached there within six minutes, covering the busy junctions at Railway Station, Logos and Manorama.

The child was administered emergency treatment at the District Hospital and was later shifted to Kottayam Medical College at night. Daksha was discharged on Tuesday morning. Biju Kuttan and Sharath, whose big heart saved little Daksha’s life, belong to Kurumulloor.

‘Overtime’ by KSRTC staff saves man
Another rescue act where bus employees became saviours was witnessed near Cheruthoni in Idukki around 10 am on Tuesday.

Ramankutty, a 58-year-old man hailing from Thamadathil, had boarded a KSRTC bus travelling between Munnar and Kuyilimala from Murickassery. When the bus passed Thadiyampadu, Ramankutty developed chest pain and when it became intense, his son Adil, who was accompanying him, informed the bus staff of the matter. Wasting no time, bus driver Paul Pandian took the bus full of passengers to Idukki Medical College. Ramankutty, who received timely treatment, was saved.  

Other passengers on the bus who were travelling to Cheruthoni and Painavu cooperated with the bus employees to help the man who needed medical attention. They were later dropped at their respective bus stops.

While Paul Pandian belongs to Munnar, the bus conductor, M Anoop, hails from Kadakkal, near Chadayamangalam, in Kollam.

Railway cops bring Sabarimala pilgrim back to life
In the third incident, Lakshman (42), a Sabarimala pilgrim from Andhra, was saved by railway police personnel near Ettumanoor in Kottayam.

On Monday night, the railway police received information that a man fell from Vivek Express between Kottayam and Ettumanoor stations, following which a search was launched along the tracks. Lakshman’s mobile location was soon identified with the help of the Cyber Cell of the Kerala Police, and he was traced without delay. The railway police rushed Lakshman to Kottayam Medical College Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

The rescue mission was carried out by Reji P Joseph, SHO of Kottayam Railway Police Station; Santhosh, SI of Railway Protection Force (RPF); and head constable Sunil.