20220228 Pune: Private bus catches fire, rescuer injured
India Feb 28 2022 “Automobile & Railway”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
Pune: Private bus catches fire, rescuer injured
Updated: 2022-02-28
The bus on fire at Chandani Chowk
PUNE: At least 27 passengers on board a private luxury bus from Jejuri to Mumbai had a lucky escape on Sunday, after their vehicle caught fire near Chandani Chowk on the Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass around 2pm.
Aniket Kadam, an autorickshaw driver, first noticed sparks emanating from the bus engine and forced the driver to halt. With help from locals, Kadam helped the passengers, driver and cleaner disembark safely.
“Pathrudkar has sustained 25% burns. It was his 55th birthday on Sunday,” said an officer from the Pune fire brigade.
The incident disrupted vehicular movement on the busy bypass, which links the Bengaluru and Mumbai highways, for two hours.
Auto driver Kadam told TOI that around 2pm, just after crossing Chandani Chowk, he noticed sparks in the engine of the private bus heading towards Mumbai. Some two-wheeler drivers also stopped.
“The driver and cleaner did not know what to do. They were just sitting. I told the passengers to urgently vacate as the bus was about to catch fire,” Kadam said, adding, “They wanted to take their luggage but I did not allow them to dilly-dally. Minutes later, the vehicle caught fire. Everyone ran away from it.”
Venkatesh Patil, a resident of Bavdhan, told TOI, “Two tyres of the bus exploded as well. The fire brigade reached the spot quite late.”
An officer from the fire brigade admitted that there were long queues of vehicles till Chandani Chowk. “Our Kothrud and Pashan fire brigade vehicles had a tough time reaching the spot,” he said.
Web Source: The Times of India