Ealing Bus Driver Falls Victim to Covid-19

Ranjith Chandrapala's daughter makes plea for more protection for his colleagues

Ranjith Chandrapala with his daughter Leshie. Picture: BBC

A bus driver serving a route in Ealing has died from Covid-19.

Greesman ‘Ranjith’ Chandrapala fell victim to the disease on 3 May becoming one of at least 33 London bus drivers to die this way.

He drove the 92 bus from Ealing Hospital to IKEA in Brent.

In an interview given to BBC Radio 5 Live his daughter told how hiss funeral cortege drove past the bus garage where he worked and his former co-workers came out to pay tribute to him lining both sides of the street.

She said, ‘They saw my dad’s coffin and I could see the fear in their eyes because they aren’t protected, they are not getting the necessary PPE.”

She was talking just after Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announce a relaxation of guideline on when people can travel and Leshie told Stephen Nolan, "More people are going to take public transport and that is going to put more bus drivers and other transport workers at risk if they don’t have the adequate PPE that they need.”

Transport for London is now advising people using public transport to wear face masks.

Ealing Council leader Julian Bell said, “We give our sincerest and deepest condolences and sympathies to his family, his work colleagues and his friends. Obviously this is another brutal reminder of the dangers of Covid-19 and the need for all of us to follow the rules.”

May 13, 2020