21 injured as state transport bus rams trailer near Mukhpath Phata in Ajanta

A serious accident took place at Mukhpath Phata near Ajanta at about 9 am on Monday (the 28th). A state transport (ST) bus travelling from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Jalgaon rammed from behind a heavy trailer carrying a poclain machine. Twenty-one passengers of the bus were injured. No one lost their life.

There were 45 passengers on the bus, registration number MH 06 BW 1236. The trailer, registration number NL 01 L 7615, was carrying the poclain from Pune towards Pahur. As it neared Mukhpath Phata, the bus crashed into its rear. The impact was so strong that the front of the bus was badly smashed. The sudden crash caused panic among the passengers.

The bus driver, Ratan Mahadev Koli, said the brakes of the bus had failed, which caused the accident. The trailer driver, Raju Par, a resident of Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, was also slightly injured. Hearing a sound like an explosion, people from the neighbourhood rushed to the spot. Passengers trapped in the bus were pulled out and, with police help, admitted to the Ajanta Rural Hospital.

Mohsin Pathan, Fakira Khan, Mehboob Khan, Sheikh Awez, Mahmu Khan, Kazim Khan, Rafiq Khan, Gaffar Khan, Sheikh Aziz, Shankar Dhakre, Bhaskar Birare, Ravi Magre and Milind Birare were among those who helped in the rescue work. After the accident the bus and trailer stayed on the highway, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides. Police had both vehicles moved aside and restored traffic. Police personnel reached the spot under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Pawan Ingle of Ajanta police station. At the rural hospital, Medical Superintendent Dinaji Khandare, Dr Amol Giri, Dr Mahesh Rathod and health staff treated the injured.

Villagers have alleged that work is under way on the highway from Mukhpath Phata to the Waghur river bridge, but the work site has no signboards, danger signals or safety markers to warn drivers in advance. People said this is increasing the risk of accidents. Villagers have demanded that the necessary safety arrangements be made at the work site immediately.

The injured include Arjun Hari Kumavat, Sahebrao Rupchand Dhangar, Sachin Dilip Kamble, Chhaya Rambhau Patil, Dwarkabai Vishwanath Kumavat, Yukta Jitendra Kapade, Mirabai Jagan Kumavat, Mangala Manoj Kumavat, Vaibhavi Ramdas Kate, Pramila Dagdu Sontakke, Uma Ritesh Pardeshi, Krishna Umesh Pardeshi, Shantabai Lalsingh Pardeshi, Megha Umesh Pardeshi, Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman, Amar Manohar Khoche, Rustam Tulshiram Gonge, Laxman Shinde, Hanuman Ashok Baviskar, Gopal Dattatraya Phuke and Lalsingh Bahadursingh Pardeshi.