15 injured as bus carrying Dhule police trainees on Diwali leave crashes near Masur in Satara

A private travels bus met with a serious accident near Masur in Karad taluka of Satara district. Trainees of the Dhule Police Training Centre were travelling in the bus from Dhule towards Kolhapur for Diwali leave. The accident took place at around 2.30 am. A total of 15 people were injured, including three drivers and 12 police trainees.

According to the information available, the Swabhimani farmers' organisation had blocked the Pune-Bengaluru national highway as part of an agitation over sugarcane prices, bringing traffic on the highway to a complete halt. The driver therefore diverted the bus towards Karad by the alternative rural route via Rahimatpur and Masur. On this unfamiliar rural road, at around midnight, the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle and the accident occurred.

On receiving the news, a team of Masur police reached the spot immediately and began rescue work with the help of local residents. All the injured were taken by ambulance and admitted to a nearby hospital. It is a relief that no one lost their life. All the police trainees are residents of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Pune districts.

The accident, which struck trainees who were heading home in good spirits, has left their families fearful. Masur police are conducting further legal investigation.