Mumbai: A private bus heading from Pune to Mumbai, with 38 passengers on board, was involved in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after colliding with a stationary truck. Police have confirmed that six passengers suffered serious injuries, while 18 others were treated for minor injuries.

The accident occurred around four in the morning near a newly constructed tunnel at kilometer 39.3 of the highway in Khopoli. Preliminary investigations by the Khopoli police indicate that the cause of the accident was a truck, with registration number KA 56 5675, which had stopped in the third lane due to a technical problem. The truck was driven by Bimreddy Musane, a 31-year-old resident of Bidar, Karnataka, who had stopped the vehicle to fix a problem with the brake system.

The private bus, registered as MH 03 DV 2412 and driven by Balaji Suryanvanshi, 41, was traveling in the same lane when it collided with the parked truck. “The truck driver, upon noticing a drop in air pressure in the brake system, had stopped in the third lane to recharge it. At that time, the private bus approached and its driver lost control, leading to a rear-end collision,” Khopoli senior police inspector Shital Raut said.

The injured passengers were admitted to MGM hospital in Kamothe, Panvel. “Some passengers suffered leg fractures and are receiving treatment in hospital, although fortunately there were no fatalities. The truck driver was served notice in accordance with the Supreme Court directive. The traffic was briefly congested but normal flow resumed at 8 am. Both damaged vehicles were removed from the road with the help of a hydraulic crane,” the police officer added.

Among the injured were the bus driver, a woman, a man and three children.