Pune: PMPML Bus Catches Fire Near Khadakwasala, No Casualties Reported
A Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus was completely gutted after catching fire near Khadakwasala on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1:30 PM near the entrance of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), close to the Khadakwasla Dam. Fortunately, all 20-25 passengers, along with the driver and conductor, were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The bus, en route from Swargate to Khanapur (MH 12-KQ 1844), had departed at 1:00 PM. Shortly after, smoke began emanating from the vehicle, prompting the driver, Firoz Shaikh, to immediately stop the bus and evacuate the passengers. Within moments, the bus was engulfed in flames.
Firefighting teams from PMRDA Nanded and the National Defence Academy (NDA) rushed to the scene and managed to control the blaze within half an hour. The cooling process was completed by 3:30 PM, after which traffic on both sides of the road was restored.
This bus, previously used for the Pune Darshan tour, had a single door in the middle and ran on diesel. Eyewitnesses reported that the bus was moving at a slow speed even before the incident. A similar fire incident had occurred in the same area on May 24, 2024.
