Pune: A tragic accident occurred on the Pune-Solapur National Highway near Varvand in Daund Taluka, as two Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC / ST) buses collided head-on, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to 69 passengers.

The incident took place on Monday (October 28) afternoon around 1:15 pm.

The deceased has been identified as Suvarna Hole, a resident of Patus in Daund Taluka. Both buses were carrying a total of 105 passengers when the collision took place in the Kauthicha Mala area near Varvand.

According to reports, the Jamkhed-Pune ST bus suddenly crossed over the highway median, ending up in the opposite lane, where it struck the Pune-Tuljapur bus coming from the other direction.

The impact of the collision was severe, with the Jamkhed bus veering off northward from the highway before coming to a halt some distance away. Blood was splattered across both buses, and several passengers were trapped and left severely injured.

Witnesses described a chilling scene of people crying and screaming, which left many local residents deeply disturbed.

Upon hearing the crash, locals quickly arrived at the site and began assisting the injured passengers. Both bus drivers and several passengers sustained critical injuries and were trapped in the wreckage.

With the swift aid of local residents, emergency responders, and the police, around 10-12 ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals, including Akshay Nursing Home, Harsh Hospital, and Patil Hospital in Daund Taluka.

The increased traffic on the highway due to the Diwali holiday season is believed to have contributed to the congestion around the accident site. Local authorities, including Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Birajdar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Bapurao Dadas, and Police Inspector Narayan Deshmukh, visited the location for an assessment.

Yavat Police Station’s Inspector Narayan Deshmukh confirmed that a detailed investigation would be carried out to determine the accident's cause.