KOCHI: A team of bus owners and employees organized a “charity drive” of sorts on Wednesday for raising funds for the treatment of a 21-year-old bus worker who met with an accident on the eve of the Independence Day.
As many as 26 city buses plying along the Pukkattupady-Ernakulam route provided ticketless journeys for the passengers on the day. The passengers were in turn requested to donate any amount they prefer to fund the treatment of Shyamjith, the bus employee. Buckets were provided in each bus so that the passengers could put their donations in it.
“Shyamjith had gone to Kalamassery to buy a national flag to decorate our bus on the eve of the Independence Day. An Innova car hit his bike from behind,” said Rajeeb S A, owner of Irfan bus in which Shyamjith had been working.
“He was taken to a private hospital in Kochi. He was under ventilator support till Wednesday evening. Besides internal injuries in the head, he fractured his neck and spine,” Rajeeb said. “He is yet to gain consciousness. Surgery and other procedures can be done only after he becomes conscious,” he said.
Shyamjith has been residing in a rented house at Maliyekkappady near Pukkattupady for the past 10 years. His mother ekes out a living doing menial jobs and Shyamjith secured a job as a bus worker during the Covid-19 period to make both ends meet.
After hearing his tragic story, owners of the buses plying in other routes like Aluva also have come up with the promise to conduct similar “charity drives” to mobilise funds for his treatment in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Irfan bus conducted a “charity trip” and collected around Rs 30,000. Many kind-hearted persons have also come forward to fund Shyamjith’s treatment, Rajeeb said.
For taking part in the donation drive, contact: 9847411301
