Pune, 24 April 2026: A fatal road accident claimed the life of an autorickshaw driver and left three passengers injured on Thursday evening. The incident took place within the limits of Ambegaon Police Station around 5:25 pm, near the second turn after the Katraj Ghat tunnel on the Pune-bound stretch.
The collision involved a state transport (ST) bus and an autorickshaw. The impact proved fatal for the rickshaw driver, 42-year-old Hanumant Ramesh Hangarge, a resident of Bibewadi. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Three passengers travelling in the autorickshaw sustained injuries in the crash. They were identified as Rajesh Ingawale (48), Dashrath Nirgude (43), and Shahaji Laxman Shivde (41), all residents of different parts of Bibewadi. Emergency services rushed them to a nearby hospital via a 108 ambulance, where they are currently receiving treatment.
According to police, the ST bus was travelling from Swargate towards Vita in Sangli district, while the autorickshaw was heading in the opposite direction towards Swargate from Khed Shivapur when the accident occurred.
The bus driver, 53-year-old Jalinder Vishnu Shinde from Sangli district, has been taken into custody. Officials confirmed that he is undergoing a medical examination as part of the investigation.
Police have registered a case and are continuing further inquiries to determine the exact cause of the accident.