Bhubaneswar: A cab driver’s act of honesty has won widespread appreciation in Puri on Sunday after he handed over to the police a tourist’s lost bag containing gold jewellery worth about Rs 8 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh in cash.Identified as Santosh Kumar Mishra (35), the driver spotted the bag in his vehicle after dropping a family from Bhubaneswar at Puri Hospital Square.“While returning to Bhubaneswar, I found the bag. The tourists had already left. I did not check the bag. My first thought was to ensure it reached its rightful owner,” Mishra said.Unable to reach the passenger on the phone, Mishra drove back to Puri and reported the matter at Kumbharapada police station. Just as he narrated the incident, the tourist called and later arrived to reclaim his belongings.Puri SP Prateek Singh felicitated Mishra for his integrity. “In times when trust in public services is often questioned, Mishra’s honesty is a reminder that good values still prevail. We urge citizens to take inspiration from Mishra’s example,” Singh said.The family expressed gratitude, calling Mishra’s gesture a blessing in disguise. “It was our carelessness. We realised the bag was missing only after reaching our hotel. Words fall short to appreciate his honesty,” said one of the family members.
