Bus bomb hero speaks

**bull** · 22 Nov 05,, 08:31

A Delhi bus driver who saved the lives of around 70 passengers when he took a bomb from his vehicle during last month's terror attacks has been speaking of his experience.
More than 60 people were killed and hundreds were injured when three bombs exploded in busy shopping districts in the Indian capital on 29 October.

Among the wounded was Kuldeep Singh, who carried a bomb off his bus after it was found by one of the passengers.

Mindful of the fact that the bus was fuelled by highly-explosive compressed gas, he urged the 70 passengers to flee while he removed the bomb. However, the bomb exploded before he too had the chance to get to safety.

"A passenger shouted, 'there is a bomb on the bus' - I immediately asked him to calm down, and pulled the bus into a less crowded area," Mr Singh told BBC World Service's Outlook programme.

He's so brave - he makes us feel proud. He saved so many lives
Delhi resident

"I went and pulled the small suitcase from under the seat. I could see three wires peeping out. I could also see an alarm clock.

"It was like a scene from a Bollywood film. I thought at once I should pull out the wires to defuse the bomb, the way they do it in the films, to defuse the bomb. But then I realised that if it was actually a bomb, and it exploded inside the bus - which had nine compressed natural gas cylinders in it - thousands of people could get killed.

"I ran out of the bus with the suitcase, while instructing the passengers to immediately vacate the bus."

Mr Singh ran towards a tree in an open space. He put it down and was turning to run when it exploded. Anyone else in my position would have done what I did
Bus driver Kuldeep Singh

Espi Singh, the head nurse at the intensive care unit, described him as "grievously injured but out of danger." She said the main problem is his hand, which is badly damaged. He has lost two fingers and the hand is not healing properly. His hearing and vision have also been badly damaged, although doctors are hopeful that he will be able to see again in future.

He said had not been at all scared of handling the bomb. "The only thought that came into my mind was that if I did not do this, many people would get killed - there were so many gas cylinders on my bus. "Not even the thought of my wife, who is eight months pregnant, crossed my mind."

Mr Singh has now become a hero figure in Delhi.

"He's so brave - he makes us feel proud," one resident told Outlook.

"He saved so many lives. His misery will also be gone in due course. It's just a matter of time."

Another said simply, "what a man."

But Mr Singh insisted that he had done nothing special."I believe that there is no lack of selfless people in this world - anyone else in my position would have done what I did," he said. "If I am faced with a similar situation again in my life, I will do the same. I feel happy about it."

Meanwhile Mr Singh's pregnant wife said that she was hopeful the couple's child would be like its father. "I feel proud that my husband saved so many lives, though I feel sad to see him in this state," she said. "I will teach the child to be like its father - really brave."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ia/4439556.stm

Published: 2005/11/21 17:49:22 GMT

© BBC MMV

**SloMax** · 22 Nov 05,, 09:25

Nerves of steel... no wonder, he drives a bus thru Delhi traffic.

**dalem** · 22 Nov 05,, 16:55

The world needs more Kuldeep Singhs.

-dale

**Bluesman** · 22 Nov 05,, 20:54

Originally Posted by dalem

The world needs more Kuldeep Singhs.

-dale

Dead right, buddy. I appreciate his modesty, but I know for a fact that NOT everybody in his position would have done what he did.

Heroic. My respects to Mr. Singh, and I hope he's feeling better.

**bull** · 23 Nov 05,, 08:23

Unlike previous cases, this time the govt has acted quickly in rewarding him with a promotion and also a cash prize of 500,000 INR,which might look an ordinary figure when in $$ but is significant in INR especially for a bus driver.

**smilingassassin** · 23 Nov 05,, 08:56

This guy is a true hero to the letter, courage in the face of death, and the modesty to claim he did nothing special. This guy definately shouldn't have to buy a beer in his home town....EVER.

**Bluesman** · 23 Nov 05,, 12:47

Originally Posted by bull

Unlike previous cases, this time the govt has acted quickly in rewarding him with a promotion and also a cash prize of 500,000 INR,which might look an ordinary figure when in $$ but is significant in INR especially for a bus driver.

VERY cool!, and thanks for posting that. I like a happy ending.

You know, I like to imagine the bastard that did this getting more and more frustrated, as he sits at his bomb-making workbench, reading the paper, and fuming that, not only does he fail to kill anybody at all, but he's the anonymous dickhead that everybody despises, and the guy that screwed him is the hero, and is beloved by the entire world, and is rewarded for his bravery. You just KNOW that's got to REALLY make him crazy!

**Bluesman** · 23 Nov 05,, 12:57

Originally Posted by smilingassassin

This guy is a true hero to the letter, courage in the face of death, and the modesty to claim he did nothing special. This guy definately shouldn't have to buy a beer in his home town....EVER.

Who here would like to get an electronic petition together stating our admiration for him? Would one of our Indian members like to head up a project to collect as many WAB signatories as we can get, and see that Mr. Singh receives it?

I'm serious. I've never done an on-line petition before, and I'm not really sure how to go about it. Anybody ever done one, or know how to go about it?

I thought about doing a PayPal collection for donations, but I think that could be problematic, and really, the point is to let Mr. Singh know that we esteem him. Our statement to that effect would do that, so probably we should keep any money out of it.

Mods, is there anything wrong with doing something like an on-line petition, or would you have any objections to it?

If we're a 'GO', I'll start writing it, and I'd like at least two of the mods to review it to assure that it's acceptable and expresses the overall sense of the WAB membership.

Or is this just a dumb idea?

**Samudra** · 23 Nov 05,, 13:08

Bluesman,

I'd start the petition thing right away if it were not for my exams - which never seems to end.We have a WAB member from Delhi, may be I'll request him to hand over the thing in person and shake his hand!

5 more exams to go.

**Bluesman** · 23 Nov 05,, 14:09

Originally Posted by Samudra

Bluesman,

I'd start the petition thing right away if it were not for my exams - which never seems to end.We have a WAB member from Delhi, may be I'll request him to hand over the thing in person and shake his hand!

5 more exams to go.

No sweat, you've got stuff to do.

Who's our Delhi resident?

Anybody else care to head up getting the on-line petiton started?

**Samudra** · 23 Nov 05,, 14:39

Bluesman,

Give me a couple of days.
Srirangan is our Delhi resident, and well, he too is having his exams now! :-(

**indianguy4u** · 23 Nov 05,, 15:58

Kuldeep Singh, Salute 2 u.

**Ray** · 23 Nov 05,, 17:03

Well done, Kuldip.

**bull** · 24 Nov 05,, 06:46

Originally Posted by Samudra

Bluesman,

Give me a couple of days.
Srirangan is our Delhi resident, and well, he too is having his exams now! :-(

I dont mid doing it, actually i will be very happy if i do it.probably till srirangan is free i can take charge.

But tell me how does it work actually.