MADURAI: The 45-year-old bus driver parked a bus driven by more than 40 passengers on the ship safely at the side of the road before he died of a heart attack on Thursday morning.
M Arumugam, which was attached to Madurai Mofussil Bus Depot, has worked in Tamil Nadu Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) as a driver for 13 years.
He drove on the route Madurai – Kodaikanal.
The bus left the Arapalayam bus standing in the city at 6.20 in the morning.
“The bus reaches the Junction Teacher Theater, about one kilometer of the bus stands around 6.30 in the morning when he feels uncomfortable.
He thinks it can become a digestive disorder,” said the Depot manager told Toi.
Arumugam waits for two-wheeled vehicles and cars to cross the signal when the yellow lights are on.
He took a vehicle to the left side of the road after crossing the intersection.
He told the bus conductor packiaraj that he had a burning sensation in the chest and asked him to get the digestive tab and bottled water.
While the packiaraj walked to the nearest pharmacy, Arumugam turned off the engine and shifted to a passenger seat close to the front step.
Upon returning to the bus a few minutes later, the conductor found the driver did not move and notified Emri 108 ambulance service.
He was declared dead by ambulance staff.
The body was taken to the Rajaji government hospital for autopsy.
His boss said that Arumugam was a driver on time with a clean note.
Arumugam, who came from Kottaiyur in Chellapatti, survived his wife and two girls’ schools.