KOLLAM: Private buses are often branded killers for their rash and reckless driving neglecting lives. Here, in a noble act of charity, five of them have turned “life savers”. They are pooling money to save the life of a baby girl, donating their entire ticket collection on Wednesday for her treatment. Two-month-old Prarthana is getting treated at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi.
Daughter of Jacob and Lakshmi of Kundara, she was diagnosed with vocal cord paralysis, laryngotracheal cleft, and eventration of the diaphragm at the time of her birth. The baby struggles hard for her life and has been on a ventilator ever since. She had recently undergone major surgery. Kundara native K.S. Venukumar, who heads the charity ‘Venu Blood Donation’ had posted her plight on the social media.
“The baby’s father used to drive our ambulance offering free service for blood donors and dialysis patients without accepting wages. When we found him struggling, we thought of raising a public fund. The financially weak Jacob has already taken Rs 7 lakh loan for her treatment. Seeing the post on social media, the bus owners came forward and made the offer,” he told DC.
The buses named Kadappayil, Irumbukadayil, Devadevan, and Olympics are owned by three friends Nishad, Salam, and Anuraj, all hailing from Mamoodu in Keralapuram. They ply along the route Elamballoor, Sakthikulangara, Anjalumoodu, Chavara, Neendakara, and Perumpuzha. Last year, they had contributed Rs 98,000 for the treatment of another child Ananya from Kottayam for her liver transplant.
