Mangaluru : A 42-year-old Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor jumped from a moving bus into the Kumaradhara River at Subramanya on Sunday, reportedly following heated arguments with a passenger.

According to Subramanya police, Devadas (42) was on the bus going from Mangaluru to Kukke Subramanya. Enroute, he had an argument with a passenger, who demanded return of money after deduction of ticket charge from Rs. 500. Devdas contended the passenger had given only Rs.100.

The two took their dispute to the Kadaba police, who sent them away after a compromise. As the bus was passing the bridge near the bathing ghat of the Kukke Subramanya temple, Devdas reportedly jumped into the water around 11 a .m. A fellow commuter too jumped to rescue him but in vain. Efforts are on to retrieve his body that was swept away.