He kissed his bus goodbye: KSRTC driver’s emotional farewell after final trip; video viral

IDUKKI: After completing his final trip in a career with the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Paul Kurian stopped the bus, touched its tyres and bowed in respect. He then placed both hands on the front of the bus, kissed it and wiped away tears from his eyes.

As the 56-year-old driver from Kattappana’s Kairali stepped down after 18 years of service at the Idukki and Kattappana depots, the eyes of those around him too turned moist. Within moments, the touching scenes of a driver bidding farewell to a vehicle he had served with deep affection found their way onto social media. “This is the love of a true driver who carries his profession in his heart,” many wrote while sharing the video.

Paul had spent the last eight years at the Kumily depot, driving the same bus on the Kumily-Kambam route. The bus held a special place in his heart as he had never met with an accident while driving it, nor had it suffered a breakdown. That was the bond behind his emotional farewell.

The video was recorded by Jose Philip, an employee of the KSRTC workshop, who wanted to share it in the Kumily depot’s WhatsApp group. It was after driver Ananthu Mohandas posted it on Facebook that the video went viral.

Paul had earlier worked as a private bus driver in Karnataka for many years. He is survived by his wife, Susamma, and children Anna Susan Paul and Ebin Paul.

“I have a special attachment to the bus I drove for nearly eight years. It has never met with an accident or suffered a breakdown. If I get this bus and this route, I would like to continue as an empanelled driver.”

— Paul Kurian

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