Cab driver risked own life to help stranded Indian
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:23.04.2019
On Sunday morning, when 25-year-old Ashwin Rangarajan, a finance consultant from Bengaluru, realised that there were bomb blasts in Colombo, one of them a few km from the hostel he was staying, it was like his worst fears had come true. With panic all around and the hostel staff locking the gates on rumours of a terrorist roaming in the area, he did not know if he could make it to the airport in time. His flight back to India was scheduled to take off 12 hours later.
However, on Monday morning Ashwin reached Bengaluru safe and sound and he had one person to thank. He was Irfan, an Uber cab driver who brushed aside his own fear and drove Ashwin to the airport. The 45-km drive to Colombo airport, was no longer safe as tensions were high after several bombs rocked the island nation on Sunday. A Muslim of Tamil origin, Irfan feared reprisal attacks after local Muslims were suspected to be involved in the terror attacks. He was on the verge of cancelling after accepting the trip.
“My mother had made the booking from Chennai as I couldn’t get one despite trying for 25 minutes. Internet services in Sri Lanka were also about to be turned off. She called him up and pleaded with him to accept the trip and drive me to safety,” Ashwin told TOI.
Though Irfan’s family had asked him to return home, he assured Ashwin’s mother that come what may he would drop her son to the airport. “As soon as I boarded the cab, he (Irfan) told me not to worry and promised that all will be fine,” Ashwin said. Ashwin recalled that Irfan got frequent phone calls from his family, who were telling him to be careful as there were rumours of Muslims being targeted. Apart from Irfan, the staff at the hostel also turned out to be heroes as they advised him to stock up on essential goods as soon as news of the blasts broke. “They locked the gates and kept us safe,” said Ashwin.
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:23.04.2019
On Sunday morning, when 25-year-old Ashwin Rangarajan, a finance consultant from Bengaluru, realised that there were bomb blasts in Colombo, one of them a few km from the hostel he was staying, it was like his worst fears had come true. With panic all around and the hostel staff locking the gates on rumours of a terrorist roaming in the area, he did not know if he could make it to the airport in time. His flight back to India was scheduled to take off 12 hours later.
However, on Monday morning Ashwin reached Bengaluru safe and sound and he had one person to thank. He was Irfan, an Uber cab driver who brushed aside his own fear and drove Ashwin to the airport. The 45-km drive to Colombo airport, was no longer safe as tensions were high after several bombs rocked the island nation on Sunday. A Muslim of Tamil origin, Irfan feared reprisal attacks after local Muslims were suspected to be involved in the terror attacks. He was on the verge of cancelling after accepting the trip.
“My mother had made the booking from Chennai as I couldn’t get one despite trying for 25 minutes. Internet services in Sri Lanka were also about to be turned off. She called him up and pleaded with him to accept the trip and drive me to safety,” Ashwin told TOI.
Though Irfan’s family had asked him to return home, he assured Ashwin’s mother that come what may he would drop her son to the airport. “As soon as I boarded the cab, he (Irfan) told me not to worry and promised that all will be fine,” Ashwin said. Ashwin recalled that Irfan got frequent phone calls from his family, who were telling him to be careful as there were rumours of Muslims being targeted. Apart from Irfan, the staff at the hostel also turned out to be heroes as they advised him to stock up on essential goods as soon as news of the blasts broke. “They locked the gates and kept us safe,” said Ashwin.
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