KSRTC driver hugs, kisses bus on final day at work; farewell leaves social media emotional

A Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver marked his retirement with an emotional farewell to the bus that had been part of his working life for years. Paul Kurian, from Kattappana in Idukki district, completed his final journey before turning back to the vehicle one last time, in moments that have since resonated with social media users.

Rather than simply walk away after his last trip, Paul returned to the bus and expressed his gratitude in a deeply personal way. He hugged the vehicle, kissed it and climbed into the driver’s seat for the final time.

Also Read: IIT Bombay graduate loses dream job months after joining, sends 200+ cold emails and then changes his approach

Driver touches bus tyres before leaving

Paul’s farewell did not end behind the wheel. Before leaving the bus for good, he went to its front and rear tyres, placed his hands on them and bowed in respect.

The gestures appeared to acknowledge the role the bus had played in his livelihood and his years spent travelling across Kerala’s roads. After spending much of his working life driving passengers over thousands of kilometres, the vehicle had become closely tied to his daily routine.

His final moments therefore became more than a conventional retirement farewell. The bus represented years of work, long hours behind the wheel and the experiences that came with a career spent on the road.

Also Read: Chanted ‘Hare Krishna’ mantra for 9 days, says Nepal tunnel survivor after rescue on Krishna Janmashtami

Emotional farewell strikes a chord online

Visuals showing Paul hugging and kissing the bus, returning to the driver’s seat and later touching its tyres have been widely shared on social media.

For viewers, the farewell offered an unusually personal glimpse into the emotional side of retirement. After years of driving the same vehicle and relying on it as part of his livelihood, Paul appeared to treat his final departure as a goodbye to a long-time companion rather than simply a workplace.

His retirement marked the end of his service with KSRTC, but the farewell he gave the bus captured the attachment that can develop between workers and the tools through which they build their lives and earn their living.