Eleven killed in bus-truck collision on Pune-Hyderabad highway

Mangalore Today News Network

Pune, Mar 11, 2017: At least 11 people were killed and many others were seriously injured when a private bus collided head-on with a truck early on Saturday near Uruli-Kanchan town in Maharashtra’s Pune district.

The dead include 5 women and 6 men and have been identified as Vijay Kale, Jyoti Kale, Yogesh Lokhande, Jaywant Chavan, Revati Chavan, Yogita Chavan, Jagdish Pandit, Shailaja Pandit, Pradip Awchat and Sulbha Awcha. A girl’s body is yet to be identified.

The injured have been admitted to nearby private hospitals.

According to preliminary reports, driver of the Tempo Traveller lost control over the vehicle when some animal unexpectedly started crossing the road near Urali-Kanchan, 40 km away from Pune, on Pune-Hyderabad highway.

A group of residents from Mumbai’s Mulund reportedly hired the bus for Akkalkot in Solapur district, a famous pilgrimage in south Maharashtra, and left in the night.

Police and medical teams have rushed to the spot and rescue operation is in progress.

Traffic on the busy Pune-Hyderabad highway has been affected and was diverted to an alternate route.