By: Kamaldeep Singh Brar

At about 3:45 am on Monday, Nanak Chand, 45, a contract driver of a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-06-G-9569), left Janial for Chandigarh with 76 passengers. The bus was near the Dinanagar police station a little after 5 am, when one of the terrorists, in army uniform, tried to stop it.

“We normally stop for passengers on the way, especially in the morning. I would have stopped the bus, but then I saw that the man’s face was covered with a black cloth and he was carrying a weapon,” said Chand.

“So instead of stopping the bus, I tried to run him over. He stepped back and opened fire. Some bullets pierced the window and hit two passengers, leaving them injured,” said Chand. “I did not stop the bus and headed towards Gurdaspur. I stopped at the Gurdaspur police station, from where the injured were rushed to hospital,” he said.

“Nanak Chand saved the lives of 76 passengers. Anything could had happened if he had stopped the bus… He is our hero,” said Amreek Singh, general manager, Punjab Roadways, Gurdaspur. He added that he would recommend Chand for a permanent job with Punjab Roadways.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.