Pune: Tempo Driver Held After Tragic Pait Gorge Accident Claims 10 Lives
Pimpri, 12th August 2025: Police have taken into custody the driver of a tempo that crashed into a 30-foot-deep gorge near Pait in Khed taluka, killing ten women devotees and injuring 27 others. The victims were en route to the Shiv Kundeshwar temple for Shravani Somvar celebrations.
The arrested driver, identified as Rishikesh Ramdas Karande (25) of Pait, was operating the vehicle despite holding only a goods carriage permit. A case was registered based on a complaint lodged by Siddhika Ramdas Choraghe (21) at the Mahalunge MIDC Police Station.
Investigators revealed that Karande had dangerously overloaded the tempo with women, children, and infants — seating them in the driver’s cabin, inside the cargo section, and even on the roof. Despite knowing the steep and winding nature of the ghat road to the temple, he proceeded with the journey.
The group had set out from Papalwadi towards the Shri Kshetra Kundeshwar Mahadev temple when, while descending a slope near the base of the mountain, Karande lost control. The vehicle rolled backwards, swerved to the right, and plunged into the gorge.
Ten women died on the spot, and the remaining passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. Karande escaped with minor injuries but was promptly arrested on charges of reckless driving, negligence, and overloading. Crime Police Inspector Anil Devde of the Mahalunge MIDC Police Station is currently handling the case.
