Major Accident on Pune-Mumbai Expressway: 23 Passengers Injured in Bus and Tempo Collision

In a troubling incident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, a private passenger bus collided with a tempo early Thursday morning, injuring 23 individuals. The accident occurred between Devale and Aundhe Bridge near Lonavala at approximately 5 AM, leading to temporary traffic disruptions for those traveling towards Mumbai.

According to the Lonavala Rural Police, the incident transpired when the driver of the private bus, which was transporting passengers from Kolhapur to Borivali, reportedly lost control. This loss of control resulted in a collision with an oncoming tempo, leaving the bus extensively damaged. Emergency services were quick to respond, and 23 passengers were reported injured in the aftermath. Of these, 11 individuals sustained serious injuries, with the condition of three passengers classified as critical. The injured have been admitted to Pavana Hospital in Somatne, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

The injured passengers have been identified as follows:

• Asia Ayaz Tamboli (45) from Sangli
• Phulabai Srikant Kale (65) from Mumbai
• Dinkar Dongre (50), the bus driver
• Vishal Mane (25), the assistant driver
• Sanjay Srikant Kale (40)
• Sanjay Shivaji Bhosle (50)
• Mangal Suresh Sutar (60)
• Amol Ramchandra Patil (31)
• Priya Sushant Sutar (34)
• Vaibhav Raghunath Jadhav (35)
• Shubham Hemant Chimgaonkar (20)
• Deepak Prakash Gaikwad (48)
• Kiran Balasaheb Kale (49)
• Saibai Jairam Shelke (36)
• Kumar Rajmohamed Sheikh (25)
• Prithvi Sanjay Devkate (25)
  Additionally, other injured individuals include:
• Santosh Jagannath Raut (49) from Dhankawadi, Pune
• Jignesh Ramesh Shah (49) from Gujarat
• Navina Atul Patole (23) and Atul Baban Patole (30) from Nerul
• Sunita Subhash Pol (55) from Bhandup, Mumbai
• Swapnil Harindrasingh Sodi (34) from Thane

Emergency responders were quick to the scene, including Assistant Police Inspector Vijay Shete of the Khandala Highway, Police Sub-Inspector Prashant Aware from the Lonavala Rural Police Station, and police constables Vijay Gale and Sitaram Bokad, along with the Devdoot emergency team. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, these officials facilitated the swift transportation of all injured passengers to a nearby private hospital in Somatne for immediate medical care. Those with minor injuries received treatment on-site.

In the wake of the accident, the damaged bus was efficiently moved to the roadside with the aid of a crane, allowing traffic to resume. The Lonavala Rural Police have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, aiming to provide clarity and ensure road safety for all travelers on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway.