College Bus Falls Into Gorge On Pune-Bengaluru Highway, Students Critically Injured
College bus plunges into Pune-Bengaluru gorge, leaving five students critical and raising urgent concerns over road safety standards.
A tragic accident on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway left five college students critically injured on Friday morning after their college bus plunged nearly 20 feet into a roadside gorge. The incident occurred near the Katraj Ghat section, a route known for sharp turns and heavy traffic.
According to early reports, the bus was carrying around 30 students from a Pune-based engineering college who were traveling for an industrial visit. Eyewitnesses told local authorities that the vehicle suddenly swerved off the road before crashing into the gorge. The cause of the mishap is still being investigated, but initial suspicion points to driver fatigue or possible brake failure.
Local residents rushed to the spot after hearing the loud crash. Emergency responders soon followed, carrying out a challenging rescue operation due to the steep depth of the gorge. The five critically injured students were immediately shifted to Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital, while others sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site. Doctors said the condition of the critically injured students remains unstable but under constant medical observation.
Police officials confirmed that the accident took place around 9:15 AM. The Pune Traffic Division has initiated a detailed inquiry and will examine CCTV footage from nearby toll booths and highway cameras. The accident has once again raised concerns over safety measures for student transportation on national highways.
Parents of the students rushed to the hospital, many expressing frustration over insufficient safety checks and poor maintenance of college transport vehicles. Several students also claimed that the bus had shown mechanical issues during previous trips, but the complaints were ignored. Authorities have asked the college administration to submit maintenance records of the vehicle within 48 hours.
The Pune-Bengaluru Highway, a crucial link between Maharashtra and Karnataka, has witnessed multiple accidents over the past few months. Experts blame a combination of speeding vehicles, inadequate road barriers, and the lack of regular vehicle inspections. Road safety activists highlighted that this tragic incident once again emphasizes the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety standards for school and college buses.
Traffic movement on the highway slowed down for nearly two hours as cranes and rescue teams worked to pull the damaged bus out of the gorge. Photos from the site showed the vehicle badly crushed from the front, indicating the severe impact of the fall.
State authorities have assured strict action if negligence is proven. Maharashtra Transport Minister announced that a special audit of all educational institution buses across Pune district will be conducted this month.
As families pray for the recovery of the injured students, the accident has sparked renewed debate on the safety of youth commuting through high-risk routes. With increasing student travel for academic programs and industrial visits, experts urge institutions to adopt regular vehicle inspections, trained drivers, and emergency preparedness protocols.
The tragic Pune-Bengaluru Highway accident serves as a reminder that road safety must remain a top priority for educational institutions and government authorities alike.