Ignored by govt, daredevil driver gets some consolation

Authorities in Delhi may have forgotten Kuldeep Singh, the bus driver who saved many lives during the serial bomb blasts in 2005 and lost his eyesight in the process, reports Kapil Datta.

Authorities in Delhi may have forgotten Kuldeep Singh, the bus driver who saved many lives during the serial bomb blasts in 2005 and lost his eyesight in the process, but a group of visually impaired children in the city seem to remember his bravery.

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Children from a blind school in Noida honoured Singh on Sunday even as he waits for the compensation promised to him by the government.

Singh, a Delhi Transport Corporation bus driver, had picked up the bag containing the bomb and thrown it away to save the passengers.

The Jeevan Jyoti Blind Welfare Society on Sunday felicitated him with a cheque of Rs.51,000 at a function held in his honour. The amount was raised through donations.

Singh’s courageous act had saved more than 30 lives on October 29, 2005. He lost vision in both eyes and had injured one hand in the explosion.

Talking to HT at the function, Singh expressed his disenchantment with the politicians and the media. “It pains to see that people and even the media remember us only when there is some blast. All they want is a 'byte' to raise the TRPs of their channels rather than genuinely help people like me. Politicians go abroad to be cured of their slightest ailments and get the best treatment. But nobody cared enough to take me abroad for treatment, so that I could get back vision in at least one eye.”

“Unless every citizen understands his responsibility and becomes the eyes, ears and nose of the police, terrorism or other criminal activities cannot be weeded out and the innocent would continue to die,” he said.

DIG, Border Security Force, Mohammed Ishrat Khan was the chief guest at the function. Noida Deputy Chief Executive Officer NP Singh was also present.