Maharashtra: 30 Immigrants Injured As Convoy Carrying 160 Bangladeshi Deportees Crashes In Bhatan Tunnel

Raigad: A joint convoy transporting 160 Bangladeshi immigrants for deportation to Pune's Lohgaon Airport met with an accident early Tuesday morning in the Bhatan Tunnel, under the jurisdiction of Rasayani Police Station. The convoy, comprising teams from Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayandar, and Navi Mumbai police units, was en route to facilitate the deportation operation coordinated by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) Mumbai.

About The Accident

According to initial reports, the accident occurred around 8:00 am, leading to injuries to 18 police personnel, including Vijay Mane from the Protection Branch, Mumbai, who is currently reported to be in critical condition. Additionally, approximately 12 Bangladeshi immigrants sustained minor injuries in the incident, said a Raigad police.

All the injured were promptly shifted to MGM Hospital, Navi Mumbai for medical treatment. Emergency teams responded quickly to the scene, and the damaged vehicles have since been cleared, restoring normal traffic flow through the tunnel, said Raigad SP Anchal Dalal

Despite the mishap, the remaining convoy and officials have proceeded with the scheduled deportation process. The 160 deportees were distributed across police jurisdictions as follows: 22 from Mira-Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV), 40 from Mumbai City, 75 from Navi Mumbai, and 23 from Thane City.

Authorities are in the process of initiating an inquiry into the cause of the accident, while ensuring that deportation procedures remain on track.