Pune: A private passenger bus traveling from Kolhapur to Mumbai met with an accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and caught fire, causing a major emergency.
The incident occurred on Tuesday (March 25) at 5:00 AM near kilometer 78 of the expressway. Fortunately, all 30 passengers onboard managed to escape safely, preventing a major tragedy.
According to police reports, the bus driver, Varshiket Pralhad Birajdar, lost control while overtaking another vehicle, causing the bus to crash through the highway’s safety barrier. Although all passengers safely exited the bus, a fire broke out soon after, completely engulfing and destroying the vehicle.
Firefighters from Wadgaon and Talegaon Dabhade stations, along with teams from MSRDC, rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control. The Shirgaon Police have taken the bus driver into custody for negligent driving, and an investigation is underway.
Timely Escape Prevents Tragedy
Despite the intense fire, the timely evacuation of passengers averted any casualties or injuries. Authorities have urged private bus operators to ensure strict safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.