Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus was completely destroyed in a fire near Khadakwasla on Monday (March 17) afternoon. The incident occurred in front of the entrance to the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) on the Pune-Panshet road at around 1:30 PM. Fortunately, all 20-25 passengers, including the driver and conductor, safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The diesel tank of the bus also remained intact.
The bus (MH 12-KQ 1844) had departed from Swargate at 1:00 PM and was headed towards Khanapur. Around 1:45 PM, about a kilometer past Khadakwasla’s first Chowpatty, smoke started emanating from the vehicle. The driver, Firoz Shaikh, immediately stopped the bus and, along with the conductor, ensured all passengers disembarked safely. Shortly after the evacuation, the flames rapidly spread, engulfing the entire bus.
Shaikh promptly alerted the fire department. A fire truck from PMRDA’s Nanded fire station arrived at the scene and began spraying water to contain the blaze. It took approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. Firefighters Dnyaneshwar Budhwant, Projyot Korde, and driver Premsagar Rathod led the operation, with additional assistance from fire engines dispatched from the National Defence Academy (NDA). By 3:30 PM, the fire was completely extinguished, and traffic, which had been halted on both sides of the road, was resumed.
Reports indicate that the bus was an older vehicle previously used for the Pune Darshan city tour. It had a single entry door in the middle and was diesel-powered. Witnesses noted that the bus was moving unusually slowly from Swargate, with its speed further reducing after passing Dhayari Phata.
After crossing Chowpatty, thick smoke started emerging from the vehicle, soon followed by flames. This is not the first such incident in the area. A similar bus fire had occurred on May 24, 2024, raising concerns about the safety and maintenance of PMPML buses.