Kochi: A heart-warming act of kindness by a local tea vendor in Kerala has captured the internet's admiration after CCTV footage revealed him offering his own ‘mundu’ (traditional garment) to a woman whose clothes were shredded in a road accident.

The mishap occurred on Tuesday at Statue Junction in Tripunithura, near Kochi, when a woman fell underneath a private bus. She had a miraculous escape as onlookers rushed to drag her out alive.

M R Shaji, a tea vendor operating nearby, was among the first to sprint to the rescue. Upon pulling the injured woman to safety, bystanders noticed her clothing had been badly torn in the accident. Without a second thought, Shaji took off his own ‘mundu’ and offered it to her so she could cover herself.
 


Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shaji said, "She was unable to stand on her feet because of her injuries when she was pulled out from beneath the bus. Her clothes had been torn apart. So I did not think twice. With the help of a friend, I removed my mundu, as it was fastened with a belt, and gave it to her so that she could be taken to hospital safely."
 


The selfless gesture, captured on a nearby CCTV camera, has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread praise for his quick thinking and respect for the victim's dignity during a crisis. While the chilling accident left onlookers shaken, it was Shaji’s quiet display of empathy that left a lasting impression, with thousands hailing it as a shining example of humanity when it was needed most.

PTI