Tragic Bus Accident Claims Lives of Pilgrims on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

A bus carrying warkaris to Pandharpur collided with a tractor on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, resulting in five deaths and 42 injuries. The crash occurred near Panvel around midnight. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde announced financial aid for victims and assured government support for the injured.

At least five individuals lost their lives and 42 sustained injuries when a bus transporting 'warkaris' or pilgrims to Pandharpur collided with a tractor on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, police reported on Tuesday.

The bus was carrying 54 devotees of Lord Vitthal from Dombivli near Mumbai to Pandharpur in Solapur district for the Ashadhi Ekadashi festivities.

Tractors are prohibited on the expressway, and the accident occurred near Panvel in Navi Mumbai around midnight. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare stated that the speeding bus collided with the tractor from behind while attempting to overtake. The impact killed three bus passengers and the tractor's driver, Tarvez Salahuddin Ahmed (27), along with Deepak Sohan Rajbhar (30). The bus then broke through the expressway's barricade and fell into a 20-feet deep gorge.

The deceased bus passengers were identified as Hausabai Hari Patil (65), Ramdas Narayan Mukadam (71), and Gurunath Bapu Patil (65). The injured were rushed to a private hospital, with seven in serious condition.

Ashadhi Ekadashi is set to be celebrated on Wednesday, with lakhs of warkaris from Maharashtra and beyond undertaking the pilgrimage to Pandharpur each year. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those deceased and assured the best medical treatment for the injured, with the government covering all expenses. Shinde, after visiting victims at a Navi Mumbai hospital, stated that police were investigating the accident and those responsible would be held accountable.

'I met each injured person, and they expressed that they were alive due to the blessings of Lord Pandurang,' Shinde added.

(With inputs from agencies.)