In a devastating incident on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, a bus carrying 51 passengers en route to the Ashadhi Ekadashi festival in Pandharpur collided with a tractor, resulting in five fatalities and leaving 43 others injured, some critically.
The accident occurred around midnight on Tuesday, approximately 5.5 kilometers along the Pune-bound lane in the Panvel area. The bus, operated by Jayashree Travels and driven by Sanjay Patil, 54, attempted to overtake a tractor driven by Tarvez Salauddin Ahmed, 28, from Uttar Pradesh. Tractors are prohibited on the expressway, and Ahmed’s vehicle was reportedly speeding in the first lane when the collision happened.
The impact of the collision caused the tractor to skid 100 feet and split into two parts, while the bus careened through the left-side railing, tumbling into a 10-15 foot ditch. Tragically, Ahmed and an unidentified passenger in the tractor were killed instantly. Among the bus passengers, Gurunath Babu Patil, 70, Ramdas Narayan Mukadam, 70, and Hansabai Hari Patil lost their lives at the scene.
Five other passengers sustained critical injuries: Baburao Dharma Bhoir, 70, Mama Pogya Bhoir, 70, Ganpat Salunkhe, 60, Sanjay Bapurao Patil, 63, and Suman Salunkhe, 60. An additional 38 passengers suffered minor injuries, while five escaped unharmed.
Authorities, including the Navi Mumbai Police and various emergency services, responded swiftly. The injured were rushed to MGM Hospital in Kamothe and a government hospital for treatment. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the injured at MGM Hospital, offering condolences and support to the affected families.
Traffic on the expressway was disrupted for several hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage using cranes. The incident has sparked grief and mourning among the community of Nilje village near Dombivli, whose residents annually participate in the Pandharpur pilgrimage during Wari. This year’s journey, a long-standing tradition, was abruptly marred by tragedy.
Sources By Agencies
