Colombo: Virtually dragging the bomb blast and bullet hit passenger bus with deflated tyre to safety in a town in North-central Sri Lanka last week, the dare devil act by its driver has earned him police appreciation.

As bodies amidst the crowded bus swung up and down, the 42-year-old Sunil Shantha himself bleeding profusely remained undeterred and steered the bus to a safe area.

The blast in that ill fated bus last Monday left 14 people including two women dead and 16 injured in the Ethawetunuwewa, town in North-central Sri Lanka.

 Now recovering at the Anuradhapura hospital, which is about 212 kms from Colombo, Shantha said he kept driving on despite the blast and was happy that he could save many lives.

"Soon after the explosion the vehicle filled up with smoke, I realised that the bus had been caught in a bomb explosion. My hands were bleeding and I couldn't see anything further than my seat because of the smoke. Simultaneously I heard the sound of gun fire and I realised I had to keep on driving," he told reporters yesterday. I realised that the tyres were deflated due to the blast, but I kept on driving because I knew if I stopped then there could be more casualties," he said.

Shantha then brought the vehicle to a halt at a safe place. A semblance of normalcy was restored after the Sri Lankan security forces arrived at the scene. 

Source : PTI