In a narrow escape, 44 passengers travelling in a private luxury bus survived a major fire accident on the Mumbai-Goa Highway early Sunday morning. The incident took place near the Kashedi tunnel in Raigad’s Poladpur region around 2 a.m.
The bus was en route from Mumbai to Malvan when one of its tyres burst. Police said the driver’s alertness proved critical as he immediately pulled over and instructed passengers to get off. Moments later, the fire spread across the bus, eventually causing the diesel tank to explode. Fortunately, everyone had already evacuated.
Local police and fire brigade teams quickly reached the spot, diverting traffic on both sides of the highway to prevent further risk. The fire was doused within an hour, and normal traffic resumed after 3 a.m.
Authorities said the driver’s swift action prevented a major disaster. While no one was injured, the vehicle was completely gutted. A case has been registered at Poladpur Police Station, and officials are investigating the cause of the tyre burst that triggered the fire.