A Final Kiss for a Lifetime on the Road: KSRTC Driver Paul Kurian’s Emotional Farewell Goes Viral

IDUKKI, September 4, 2026: For 18 years, Paul Kurian began his working days behind the wheel of a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus. The vehicle was his workplace, his responsibility and, over time, something much more personal.

So, when the KSRTC driver from Kattappana in Idukki completed his final journey before retirement, he could not simply step down from the driver's seat and walk away.

Instead, he stopped to say thank you.

The Man Who Treated His Bus as a Companion

Paul Kurian, attached to the KSRTC's Kumily depot, has spent nearly two decades carrying passengers safely along Kerala's roads.

For the past eight years, he had driven the same bus regularly, becoming especially familiar to passengers travelling on the Cumbum–Kumily–Karuvakkulam–Kottayam route.

After completing his final active duty, Paul stepped out of the driver's cabin and approached the vehicle that had been part of his daily life for years.

What followed was a farewell that has touched so many lives.

One Last Kiss and a Tearful Goodbye

Paul first touched and bowed before the bus's tyres in a gesture of gratitude and respect. He then walked to the front of the vehicle, placed his hands upon it and kissed the bus.

He returned briefly to the driver's seat, sitting behind the wheel one last time before finally stepping away.

The emotional scenes were captured on video and quickly spread across social media, where viewers were deeply moved by the driver's attachment to the vehicle.

For Paul, the bus was not merely a machine.

It had accompanied him through countless early mornings, long journeys and demanding days. It had also provided him with a livelihood and enabled him to carry many passengers safely towards their destinations.

Eighteen Years of Service

Paul, who is reported to have served KSRTC for 18 years, became known to regular passengers during his years on the interstate routes connecting Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

According to reports, he drove his assigned bus for the past eight years without it being involved in an accident or suffering a major breakdown during his service.

His emotional farewell reflected the deep sense of responsibility that many public transport workers develop towards the vehicles entrusted to their care and the passengers who depend upon them each day.

More Than Just a Job

The viral video has prompted widespread appreciation for Paul and his devotion to his profession.

In an age when employment is often viewed simply as a means of earning a living, his farewell offered a powerful reminder that years of dedicated work can create a profound bond between a person and their vocation.

Paul Kurian's final journey behind the wheel may have ended, but the images of his farewell will remain with those who watched them.

With one last kiss, a bowed head and tears in his eyes, the KSRTC driver said goodbye to the bus that had carried not only thousands of passengers, but also a significant part of his own life.

Courtesy : NDTV

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