30 Umrah Pilgrims Narrowly Escape Death As Private Bus To Mumbai Catches Fire Near Karad; Visuals Surface

30 passengers narrowly escaped a disaster as a private travel bus, en route from Miraj to Mumbai for Umrah, caught fire at the Karad toll plaza on the Pune-Bangalore national highway.

The incident, caused by a short circuit, occurred around 4 am on December 7. Although there were no casualties, the Dolphin company's bus was completely gutted, resulting in significant financial losses for the passengers.

The driver, Farooq Rustam Ali Pinjara, promptly responded to smoke noticed at the Taswade toll booth near Karad. However, the situation escalated when the fire intensified, taking on a more intense red hue as the bus's tires caught fire.

Passengers were safely evacuated before the bus was engulfed in flames. Karad Municipal Council's fire brigade extinguished the fire, but the bus was reduced to a skeleton. The toll booth's safety barricade was also damaged in the incident. Authorities and local police responded swiftly to manage the situation.

The recurring incidents of fires involving private buses have raised significant concerns. In July, a tragic incident unfolded on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway in Maharashtra, claiming the lives of 25 individuals who were charred to death when a bus caught fire. Similarly, in the previous year, a devastating incident occurred in Nashik city, Maharashtra, where at least 11 people lost their lives, and 38 others sustained injuries. The private bus, en route to Mumbai, caught fire after colliding with a trailer truck. Authorities reported the incident happening early on a Saturday.