Tragedy struck the Malegaon-Manmad highway in Maharashtra when a travels bus from Pune collided head-on with a pickup van near Varhane village around 3 AM on Monday. The impact was so severe that four people perished instantly, and more than 20 sustained injuries in the mangled wreckage.
Passengers aboard the bus faced pandemonium—some pinned under debris, others sprawled across the aisle from the forceful jolt. Rescue teams, aided by locals, worked tirelessly to free the victims. The injured were promptly transported to Malegaon Civil Hospital, where medical staff are battling to stabilize the critically hurt.
The road remained blocked as police documented the scene, removed the vehicles, and began piecing together the sequence of events. Investigators are eyeing excessive speed or a momentary lapse by the driver as likely culprits.
Just five days prior, Pune witnessed a heartbreaking loss with the deaths of sisters Rituya and Neha Shinde in Kalaevadi. These back-to-back disasters underscore the urgent need for better road safety measures across the state, from infrastructure upgrades to vigilant policing.