Karumalloor: "The bus was full of passengers. We had to reach Angamaly by around 1 pm, so I was driving in a hurry. That's when I noticed a crowd near the Manjali bridge. I stopped the bus and got down. I saw a young girl struggling for her life in the river. I didn't think twice. Since I know how to swim, I jumped," said private bus driver Ajesh, whose quick action saved a precious life.

The incident occurred around 12.20 pm on Friday, when an 18-year-old girl from Poikkattussery jumped into the river from the Manjali bridge.

As onlookers watched helplessly while the girl was being swept towards a deep and dangerous stretch of the Periyar, the private bus 'Execute', which operates on the route, arrived from Paravur.

On learning what had happened, Ajesh (41) immediately got off the bus and dived into the river. He swam nearly 100 metres, holding the girl by her hair, and brought her close to the riverbank. Residents waiting at the Manjali Colony ghat then helped pull her out and rushed her to Chalakkudy Medical College Hospital for treatment.

According to reports, the teenager attempted suicide after being distressed over not securing marks she had expected in the NEET examination. Hospital authorities said she is now out of danger.

After ensuring the girl was rescued, Ajesh, despite the delay, got back behind the wheel and drove the bus, safely dropping his passengers at their destinations.