Risking his life, bus driver Salim Sheikh drove the bus to safety while returning from Amarnath Shrine despite being reportedly hit by a bullet.
Amid continuous firing by a group of heavily armed terrorists on Amarnath pilgrims, a bus driver from Gujarat risked his life to save passengers showing exemplary courage. Terrorists on Monday night killed seven pilgrims, including six women, and injured 19 others as they struck at a bus in Kashmir's Anantnag district, in the worst attack on the annual pilgrimage since the year 2001.
Risking his life, Salim drove the bus to safety while returning from Amarnath Shrine despite being reportedly hit by a bullet. Reports said that Salim locked the door from inside, refraining terrorists from entering into the bus, and drove for nearly two kilometers before stopping near an army camp. "God gave me strength to keep moving, and I just did not stop," said Salim.
Recognising Salim's bravery, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced a Rs 3 lakh award for bus driver Salim Sheikh, whose bravery ensured that the casualty count wasn't higher.
"He couldn't save seven lives, but managed to move 50 people to a safe place. We are proud of him," said Salim's cousin Javed Mirza "He called me at around 9.30 pm and said that there was firing. Salim did not stop when terrorists fired but only looked for a safer spot for the pilgrims," added Javed.
The bus which came under attack was from Gujarat (GJ 09 Z 997) and was registered in North Gujarat's Sabarkantha district.
Meanwhile, the bodies of seven pilgrims have been brought to Gujarat in an IAF plane.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani condemned the attack and said the country will never bow down to such an ideology.
The Gujarat government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh each to the injure
Compensation announced for victims of Amarnath terror attack
The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced Rs six lakh compensation to the next of kin of each of the seven Amarnath pilgrims killed in the militant attack while the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has decided to give out Rs five lakh each to families of victims.
"The state government has decided to pay ex gratia compensation of Rs six lakh each to the victims of the violent attack in Anantnag last night. While seriously injured yatris will be paid Rs two lakh, those with minor injuries will be paid Rs one lakh," officials said here.
They said the state government will also give a cash reward of Rs three lakh to the driver of the yatri bus, Sheikh Saleem Gafoor, for showing "exemplary courage and presence of mind" while driving through the bullets.
Governor N N Vohra, in his capacity as chairman of SASB, also announced relief of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the incident; Rs 1.50 lakh to those who had suffered grievous injuries and Rs 75,000 for Yatris with minor injuries.
Vohra also announced a special reward of Rs 2 lakh to the driver of the bus, whose alert responses saved the lives of many pilgrims as he kept the vehicle moving even when he was under heavy fire from the front and the wind-screen had been shattered, a spokesman of the board said.
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