KSRTC loses two model employees

T’puram: The death of KSRTC’s employees V D Gireesh and V R Baiju came as a shock to their friends and colleagues who considered them as role models. Ernakulam transport officer Thajudeen Sahib V M, who rushed to Avinashi, said nobody had complained against his two best men and not a single accident case was registered against them since they joined in 2008. He recalled how they had agreed to operate additional services to Bengaluru during a private bus strike last year as many passengers were stranded at bus depots in Kerala and Bengaluru.
KSRTC had feted them on June 26, 2018 for helping a passenger Dr Kavitha Warrier who had an epileptic seizure during a bus journey from Ernakulam to Bengaluru. The appreciation letter states how the driver Gireesh and helped Dr Kavitha by taking her to a private hospital in Hosur. Baiju, after seeking permission from higher officials, stayed back with her till her relatives reached the hospital, while Gireesh continued the bus service to Ernakulam. The appreciation letter was given by Tomin J Thachankary, who was then CMD of KSRTC. “The bus crew V R Baiju and V D Gireesh were lauded by media and passengers for their initiative to take the passenger to the hospital. I congratulate Gireesh and Baiju, whose timely act has brought laurels to KSRTC,” reads the letter from the CMD.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled their death. “They were the best employees of KSRTC and more than that they were role models. Their effort to provide treatment to the passenger shows their love towards people,” he said.