Pune: A bus carrying school students on an educational and pilgrimage tour met with a serious accident on the Nagar–Kalyan (Kalyan–Ahilyanagar) highway near Otur in Junnar taluka, after the driver lost control of the vehicle. The incident occurred while the students were travelling from Shivneri Fort to Ashtavinayak Darshan at Ozar–Lenyadri.
According to police sources, the ST bus was carrying 53 students, along with teachers and staff, from a school in Nevasa taluka of Ahilyanagar district. After visiting Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the group was heading towards Junnar for darshan when the accident took place.
While passing through the Dumbarwadi–Otur stretch of the highway, the bus reportedly lost control due to high speed and rammed into the wall of a small bridge and divider. The impact was so severe that the front tyre burst, causing the bus to overturn.
The accident created panic among the students inside the bus. Locals immediately rushed to the spot and began rescue operations. With the help of villagers, teachers and passers-by, the students were safely taken out of the overturned bus.
10 to 15 students sustained injuries to their hands and legs. The injured include Shrawani Navthar, Krishna Navthar, Siddhant Musale, Sarthak Kokate, Jia Sheikh, Ishwari Lahare, Sagar Favle, Anuraj Kale, Ritesh More, Snehal Khandagale, Shubham Gondule, Payal Kachre, Kavya Gosavi, Irfan Navthar and others.
All injured students were immediately shifted to a private hospital in Alephata, where they were given first aid and medical treatment. Doctors confirmed that their condition is stable.
Upon receiving information, Otur Police Station officials rushed to the spot. The inquiry is being conducted under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Lahu Thate, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Due to the mishap, traffic on the Nagar–Kalyan highway was disrupted for some time before being restored.
The joyous school trip ended in shock and fear, leaving students, teachers and parents deeply shaken.
