KOTTAYAM: A 40-year-old KSRTC bus driver died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the wheel here on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Saju Ma thew, Thidanad native, who brought the bus to a safe halt before collapsing on the steering of the bus.The incident took place at around 9.35am in Kodimatha when the bus left Kottayam depot for Changanassery . As the bus got on the bridge, Saju started feeling the chest pain and suddenly put the hand brake of the bus fearing that he may lose control of the bus. Saju fell on the steering just after applying the brakes and bringing the bus to a safe halt.As the bus came to a halt unexpectedly, the conductor of the bus Aneesh and a KSRTC driver TK Lal who was travelling in the bus rushed to the driver’s seat. Lal was travelling to Chengannur depot where he was working. He took over the control of the bus and drove back to the general hospital in the town. Around 25 passengers were on the bus. A couple of nurses who were travelling in the bus tried to give first aid to Saju. Saju was alive when he was brought to the hospital. However, he passed away in the casualty wing of the hospital. The driver had undergone angioplasty in a private hospital three months back. He is survived by wife Jancy and daughter Catharine.Saju was the driver of the Chennad-Thiruvananthapuram fast passenger bus.

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