Posted on 11/27/2005 7:07:59 AM PST by samsonite
A Delhi bus driver who saved the lives of around 70 passengers when he took a bomb from his vehicle during last month's terror attacks has been speaking of his experience.
More than 60 people were killed and hundreds were injured when three bombs exploded in busy shopping districts in the Indian capital on 29 October.
Among the wounded was Kuldeep Singh, who carried a bomb off his bus after it was found by one of the passengers.
Mindful of the fact that the bus was fuelled by highly-explosive compressed gas, he urged the 70 passengers to flee while he removed the bomb. However, the bomb exploded before he too had the chance to get to safety.
"A passenger shouted, 'there is a bomb on the bus' - I immediately asked him to calm down, and pulled the bus into a less crowded area," Mr Singh told BBC World Service's Outlook programme.
"I went and pulled the small suitcase from under the seat. I could see three wires peeping out. I could also see an alarm clock.
"It was like a scene from a Bollywood film. I thought at once I should pull out the wires to defuse the bomb, the way they do it in the films, to defuse the bomb. But then I realised that if it was actually a bomb, and it exploded inside the bus - which had nine compressed natural gas cylinders in it - thousands of people could get killed.
"I ran out of the bus with the suitcase, while instructing the passengers to immediately vacate the bus."
Not scared
Mr Singh ran towards a tree in an open space. He put it down and was turning to run when it exploded.
Espi Singh, the head nurse at the intensive care unit, described him as "grievously injured but out of danger."
She said the main problem is his hand, which is badly damaged. He has lost two fingers and the hand is not healing properly.
His hearing and vision have also been badly damaged, although doctors are hopeful that he will be able to see again in future.
He said had not been at all scared of handling the bomb.
"The only thought that came into my mind was that if I did not do this, many people would get killed - there were so many gas cylinders on my bus.
"Not even the thought of my wife, who is eight months pregnant, crossed my mind."
Mr Singh has now become a hero figure in Delhi.
"He's so brave - he makes us feel proud," one resident told Outlook.
"He saved so many lives. His misery will also be gone in due course. It's just a matter of time."
Another said simply, "what a man."
Wife proud
But Mr Singh insisted that he had done nothing special.
"I believe that there is no lack of selfless people in this world - anyone else in my position would have done what I did," he said.
"If I am faced with a similar situation again in my life, I will do the same. I feel happy about it."
Meanwhile Mr Singh's pregnant wife said that she was hopeful the couple's child would be like its father.
"I feel proud that my husband saved so many lives, though I feel sad to see him in this state," she said.
"I will teach the child to be like its father - really brave."
Indeed, what a man.
He really is a hero. Bravo Mr. Singh!
And may the evil ones who did this rot in hell.
Like others he says "anybody would have done it" I dunno about that. My first inclination would have been to run like hell.
He's a hero alright. Bless him.
God bless him, and give him speedy recovery. What a hero.
Paul
What a hero! Prayers for a speedy recovery.
L
Ping!
Definately a hero!! My inclination would have been to throw it and run while it's in the air......:)
A true Hero!
God bless him - and bring him a bottle or two of good Scotch whiskey!
Blessings -- Brian
Aye, Aye Sir!
The selfless act of a true hero. Makes me think of our soldiers, who are heros everyday.
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
Why does the surname completely fail to surprise me?
Remember that brave bus driver in Delhi who saved all those lives? He was in a critical condition but have almost recovered now. This story is about him.
God bless him and other heroes who are at the forefront of fighting Islamic terrorism on a daily basis.
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