Mumbai-Bound MSRTC Bus Rams into Parked Truck on Mumbai-Pune Expressway; Driver Killed, 9 Injured
Lonavla, Pune (June 10, 2025) – A devastating road accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway near Lonavla resulted in the death of an MSRTC bus driver and left nine passengers injured in the early hours of Thursday. The collision occurred when the Mumbai-bound Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus rammed into a stationary container truck near the Lonavla exit around 3 AM.
Details of the MSRTC Bus Accident
The ill-fated bus (MH 14 KQ 4956) was traveling from Baramati to Mumbai Central with 33 passengers on board. According to eyewitnesses and police reports, the bus collided with a parked container truck (RJ 29 GA 9994) on the expressway, leading to the instant death of the driver, Irshad Abdul Majid Shaikh (38), a resident of Ashti in Beed district.
Injured Passengers and Hospitalization
Among the injured were the bus conductor, Sagar Gund, also from Beed district, and eight other passengers, including:
- Appa Dadarama Olakunte (67) – Malegaon, Baramati
- Priyanka Kharat (26) & Meena Kharat (52) – Bhiwandi
- Rutuja Hubale (16) – Kurla
- Anil Kute (59) & Akshay Kute (31) – Kasarwadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad
- Pranay Dinesh Chavan (25) & Mahesh Manoj Shinde (28) – Santacruz, Mumbai
Three critically injured passengers were admitted to a private hospital in Somatne Phata, while the others received preliminary treatment and were discharged.
Police Investigation and Rescue Efforts
The Lonavla City Police registered an accidental death case and are investigating the cause of the crash. Sub-Inspector Ravindra Mudal of the Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) stated that emergency teams, including police personnel, Maharashtra Security Force, IRB, Delta Force, and Devdoot Emergency Response Unit, rushed to the scene.
Sachin Shinde, divisional traffic controller of MSRTC’s Swargate Depot, suggested that the truck abruptly applied brakes on a slope, leading to the collision. Authorities are further examining whether driver fatigue or mechanical failure contributed to the accident.
Authorities Urge Caution on Expressway
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of high-speed travel on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, especially during late-night hours. Police have advised strict adherence to speed limits and proper vehicle maintenance to prevent such accidents in the future.
