A group of 49 students and teachers had a harrowing experience on Wednesday morning when their school picnic took a dangerous turn near Mill Village, close to the Khopoli exit along the old Mumbai-Pune highway.
Their journey, which started around 7:30 am, turned terrifying as their bus, en route to Raigad, suddenly veered off the road, ending up approximately 100 meters from its intended path. Prompt action from the highway police, along with the courageous efforts of Khopoli Police Inspector Sheetal Raut and the local rescue team led by Gurudada Satilkar, ensured the swift rescue of everyone on board.
Travelling in a private luxury bus from Chikhali, the group was headed for a school-organized picnic. Despite the frightening ordeal, there were no reports of serious injuries. All the children, teachers, and the bus attendant, initially trapped, were safely extricated, along with the bus driver.
The group found refuge at Gagangiri Ashram, where they received immediate medical attention and support to recover from the shock.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident, which caused a temporary disruption to traffic along the highway.
