Other States - Orissa   

Bystanders go to victims’ rescue

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Freak accident: What remains of the bus that caught fire in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

BHUBANESWAR: Ranjan Behera, a daily labour, was about to embark on a gruelling day on Monday, when he saw a bus carrying pilgrims catching fire. He barely invited a second thought before jumping into the ill-fated bus to rescue tourists.

Jibitesh Praharaj, an employee of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA), was on his way to his office as he heard desperate shrieks of a two dozens of tourists from the burning bus. He did not care for his expensive pairs of dress and threw himself for the rescue operation.

Several onlookers also engaged themselves even as the fire emanating from engine section was fast engulfing the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) bus at the busy Kalpana Square on Monday.

Some 10 volunteers did not wait for the fire brigade, which is stationed just a few feet away from the accident site.

Had the bystanders not been into Samaritans’ role immediately, it could have been a disaster. Many who were waiting to board different buses broke windowpanes of the bus to pull the tourists from the inside.

“I myself retrieved three unconscious tourists from the bus. Spending a few seconds inside the smoke-filled bus is not everybody’s job.

By that time, the floor of the bus had already got heated and I was bare footed,” Ranjan said describing the horrific moments after all injured were rushed to hospitals.

Jibitesh came to the term after making 30 minutes of uncompromising efforts of rescuing tourists and sending them to hospitals. He was seen informing his office over his cell-phone when media persons caught up with him.

“I could not have ignored the such frenetic call from those who are in distress. I was not alone everybody pitched in.

Otherwise, it would have been a disaster,” Jibitesh said. But the drama was yet to get over.

Ranjan was just relaxing when police arrived on the scene.

They chased away all curious onlookers. When Ranjan pleaded that he could not move away with blistered legs, police personnel hardly gave him a hearing as they had to clear the space for arrival of ministers at that place.

Even at the hospital, he seemed to be an unwanted character.

After persuasions from media persons covering the accident, he was given the first-aid.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

4 killed as bus catches fire
Diarrhoea breaks out in Rayagada
Quiz contest held
Bystanders go to victims’ rescue
Defunct system at hospitals adds to their woes
Review meet on developmental projects
Tribals hold armed demonstration
NIST workshop
Man dies in accident
Normalcy yet to be restored in Kandhamal

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu