Pune: Four Dead, Five Injured in Hinjawadi Bus Fire Tragedy
In a devastating incident that has shaken Pune’s Hinjawadi IT Park, four people lost their lives, and five others sustained severe burn injuries after a mini-bus carrying employees of Vyoma Graphics caught fire on Wednesday morning. The tragedy occurred around 7:30 AM near the office of the Hinjewadi Industries Association in Phase 1 of the IT Park. The bus, which was transporting 12 to 15 employees to their workplace, suddenly caught fire due to an engine malfunction, leading to chaos and panic among the passengers.
According to Kanhaiya Thorat, Senior Police Inspector of Hinjawadi Police Station, the fire originated near the driver’s cabin. The driver, upon noticing the flames, immediately jumped out of the vehicle. While eight passengers managed to escape, four others were tragically trapped inside. Preliminary reports suggest that the front door of the bus was inaccessible, and the rear door failed to open, leaving the victims with no means of escape. The deceased have been identified as Subhash Bhosale, Shankar Shinde, Gurudas Lokare, and Raju Chavan.
The injured, including two individuals with over 40% burns, were rushed to Ruby Hall Clinic in Hinjawadi for emergency treatment. Dr. Sudheer Rai, COO of Ruby Hall Clinic, provided a detailed update on the condition of the injured. He stated that two patients are in critical condition due to extensive burns, while others are receiving intensive care. One patient with 20% burns remains unconscious, and another with 5% burns is stable. The hospital’s medical team is working round the clock to provide the best possible care to the victims.
Firefighters from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation responded swiftly to the scene and managed to douse the flames. However, the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Police officials are also examining whether the bus rammed into a divider after the driver jumped out, which could have exacerbated the situation. Authorities are working to determine if there were any lapses in vehicle maintenance or safety protocols that contributed to the incident.
The tragic event has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of vehicles used to transport IT employees. Pavanjit Mane, a representative from the Forum of IT Employees, highlighted the lack of safety audits and emergency preparedness in such vehicles. He pointed out that many companies have outsourced transportation services to third-party providers, often compromising on safety standards. Mane emphasized that employees are often unaware of the location of emergency exits or the presence of firefighting equipment in these vehicles. He called for regular safety checks, mandatory fire drills, and stricter regulations to ensure the safety of employees during their commute.
The incident has also drawn attention to the broader issue of workplace safety in the IT sector. Employees and unions are urging companies to take responsibility for the safety of their workforce, especially during transit. The Forum of IT Employees has demanded that companies conduct thorough audits of their transportation fleets, ensure the functionality of emergency exits, and provide adequate firefighting equipment in all vehicles.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the families of the victims are left grappling with the sudden loss of their loved ones. The injured, meanwhile, face a long and painful road to recovery. The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety measures and ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future. Authorities, companies, and transportation providers must work together to implement stricter safety protocols and prevent such heartbreaking incidents from recurring.
