Champawat, June 3: A Uttarakhand Roadways bus driver saved the lives of 34 passengers on Wednesday by steering the vehicle into a hillside after its brakes failed on a slope here, police said.
The driver, Beniram Thwal (49), a resident of Champawat, however, died after being crushed under the front wheel of the bus.
The incident occurred at around 10 am near Marodakhan, about 18 kilometres from Champawat, on the All-Weather Road. The bus was heading from Dharchula to Tanakpur when its brakes failed on a downhill stretch.
Suresh Pandey, Assistant Regional Manager of the Tanakpur division of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, said the driver steered the vehicle into the hillside on the right to bring it to a halt and protect the passengers.
During the impact, the driver was thrown out of the vehicle and came under the front wheel of the bus. He died on the spot after being run over.
Except for one woman who sustained minor injuries, all passengers escaped unhurt, the police said, adding that the injured passenger is receiving treatment at the Lohaghat sub-district hospital. (PTI)
