#JustIn: Pune PMPML Bus Engulfed in Flames, All Passengers Safe

A Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus was entirely consumed by fire in Pune on Sunday morning, generating voluminous plumes of thick smoke that rapidly alerted nearby residents and necessitated an urgent deployment of firefighting resources. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been documented in connection with this incident, although the bus suffered irreversible damage, with its interior compartments, passenger seats, and driver's cabin reduced to scorched remnants amid the intense blaze.

Circulated video documentation from PTI captures the dramatic scene, illustrating firefighters methodically applying high-pressure water jets to extinguish persistent flames on the fully gutted vehicle. An official inquiry has been launched to ascertain the precise cause of the fire, including potential mechanical or electrical failures, while authorities continue to verify whether any individuals were aboard the bus at the moment the conflagration commenced.

In a comparable earlier occurrence, a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fueled bus operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking erupted in flames within Mumbai's Vikhroli locality, attributed preliminarily to burning wiring in the driver's cabin due to a suspected short circuit. Transpiring around 3:25 pm as the leased vehicle—managed by Maruti Travel—proceeded from Vikhroli station toward Kannamwar Nagar, the situation was effectively managed by the alert crew, ensuring zero passenger harm despite the escalating smoke and fire.

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Distinct from these urban fire events, a grave accident unfolded in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, where a school bus laden with more than 20 students catastrophically lost traction while traversing a sharp bend on the Akkalkuwa–Molgi road near Devgoi Ghat, hurtling approximately 100–150 feet down into a steep ravine early Saturday morning. The forceful descent mangled the bus beyond recognition, claiming the life of one student instantly and inflicting serious injuries on numerous others aboard.

Coordinated rescue endeavors promptly mobilized local inhabitants alongside police, fire brigade, and district administration teams to the challenging accident site, enabling the swift extraction and medical evacuation of the affected students to Akkalkuwa Rural Hospital for specialized care. This devastating episode has intensified scrutiny on vehicular safety standards and infrastructure maintenance in hazardous mountainous passages, prompting calls for enhanced preventive measures.

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