Khurdha, Nov 1: In a tragic yet heroic incident in Odisha’s Khordha district today, a bus driver’s presence of mind saved the lives of more than 40 passengers just moments before he succumbed to a heart attack.

The private bus Anwesha, traveling from Bhubaneswar to Bhanjanagar, had recently departed from the Bolagarh bus stand in the afternoon. Barely 500 meters into its journey along NH-57, driver Sarata Martha suddenly experienced severe chest pain.

Recognizing the danger, Martha immediately switched off the ignition and brought the bus to a safe stop on the roadside, averting what could have been a serious accident. Shortly afterward, he collapsed behind the wheel, said sources.

Alert passengers and staff quickly rushed him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bolagarh using an autorickshaw, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Martha’s decisive actions have earned widespread admiration from locals and passengers alike. Despite facing a fatal heart attack, his quick thinking ensured the safety of everyone on board.