RTA needs to recognise the heroic bus driver for his actions

Thursday was just another day for Akhtar Kamal. The Dubai bus driver was working through his shift, driving a No 21 bus on its route from Al Ghubaiba to Ras Al Khor, and had about 50 passengers on board his RTA vehicle.

As the bus approached busy Khalid Bin Walid Street in Bur Dubai, Kamal started to smell acrid smoke coming into the cabin. He stopped the bus and quickly ushered its passengers off, maintaining calm and order as an electrical fault in the air conditioning unit led to a fire that rapidly engulfed the bus.

The modest driver says that luck played a big part in avoiding injuries or more chaos. Indeed, Kamal acted so quickly and efficiently that most passengers were not even aware there was a problem.

The RTA needs to recognise the professional and calm manner in which Kamal acted, making sure his passengers were safe.