Driver Salim the ‘Saviour’ nominated for the bravery award.

Surat: Manoeuvring a 56-seater bus in the dark in mountainous terrain is daunting enough. But Salim Shaikh, 37, drove at full tilt for more than 2 km, with a flat tyre and bullets whizzing by, and saved the lives of over 50 Amarnath pilgrims on Monday. The terror attack killed seven and injured 21.

"It was all due to Baba Amarnath's blessings that I got the strength despite guns blazing around me," said Shaikh. "The first bullet flew over my head and hit a passenger. The tyre burst, but I had no second thoughts in speeding away."

Witnesses said the terrorists kept up the firing till the bus reached an Army camp. Shaikh said he realised it was a terrorist attack the moment a bullet pierced through the glass. "I slid down my seat and kept driving. I would see the road for a second or so and duck," he said.

Applauding his courage, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said Shaikh would be nominated for the annual bravery award.