A passenger travelling on a bus in Khushab turned into a hero on Tuesday when he took control of a vehicle that had lost its brakes and was speeding towards a deep ravine, saving the lives of more than 25 people on board.
According to police, the bus was travelling along a downhill stretch near Peel Chowk when its braking system failed. The vehicle began to pick up speed uncontrollably, heading towards the edge of a ravine, and the situation quickly became a matter of life and death for everyone inside.
Instead of staying with the passengers, the driver jumped out of the moving bus and fled, leaving the vehicle without anyone at the wheel. With the bus still rolling downhill and gathering speed, one of the passengers stepped forward, took hold of the steering wheel and tried to bring it under control.
Realising that the bus could not be stopped in the normal way, the passenger deliberately steered it towards a hillside. The vehicle came to a halt against the slope, and what could have been a major tragedy was avoided. Police said more than 25 passengers were saved through the man’s quick thinking and courage, and the incident happened so fast that there was little time for anyone else on board to react.
District Police Officer Khushab, Dr Amara Shirazi, later invited the passenger to her office and presented him with a commendation certificate in recognition of his bravery. She said protecting human lives and showing courage in a critical situation was an act worthy of recognition and appreciation, and she praised the passenger for stepping forward when others might have frozen.
Police said efforts were under way to trace the bus driver, who allegedly abandoned the vehicle after the brakes failed and left his passengers to face the danger alone. No reason has been given for why the driver chose to jump out rather than try to slow the bus down, and police said the matter would be looked into as part of their investigation.
The incident has once again raised questions about the maintenance of public transport vehicles, particularly the regular inspection of braking systems, and about the responsibility of drivers to stay with their passengers in an emergency. For the families of the more than 25 people who reached home safely, however, the day will be remembered for the courage of an ordinary passenger who refused to stand by while the bus rolled towards the ravine.