An unfortunate accident on the old Pune-Nashik highway near the Manchar-Shewalwadi section in Ambegaon Taluka left three passengers injured when one Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus rear-ended another on Tuesday evening, June 25th, around 5:30 PM. Thankfully, all 46 passengers from both buses narrowly escaped major harm, with several nearby laborers also avoiding a potentially serious incident.
Accident Details and Causes
The incident occurred when an MSRTC bus from Shivajinagar Depot, en route from Pune to Ale Phata, experienced brake failure after passing the Shewalwadi bridge. Driver Lakhan Rathod attempted to maneuver the bus to the left side to stop, but the bus from Saswad-Pune via Nashik behind it, driven by Tatya Sarpotdari, couldn’t stop in time and collided with the stationary bus ahead. Both buses sustained significant damage in the collision.
Injuries and Medical Response
Three passengers, identified as Dipaji Devaji Dhakare (59) and Kantabai Dhakre (residents of Ambegaon), along with Arjun Dharma Kuradkar (53) from Pune, sustained injuries. They were promptly attended to at Sub District Hospital, Manchar, by Dr. Priya Chavan and her medical team. Dr. Chavan reported that the injured individuals were in stable condition following treatment.
Response and Investigation
Balaji Suryavanshi, Depot Head of Manchar MSRTC Depot, visited the accident site to provide reassurance to passengers. Arrangements were made for alternative transportation to ensure that passengers could continue their journeys safely on other MSRTC buses. Police Constable Santosh Mandge from Manchar Police Station conducted the investigation and completed necessary documentation.
Eyewitness Account
A witness present at the scene remarked, “The accident occurred near a factory that manufactures cement pillars, windows, and other items. Normally, there is a rush of workers and customers, but due to the rain, the area was deserted, preventing potential loss of life.”
