Close Shave For Passengers As Sleeper Bus Catches Fire On Mumbai-Pune Expressway
Raigad/Thane, 24th September 2026: A technical snag in the air-conditioning system is suspected to have triggered a fire in a double-decker sleeper bus travelling from Udaipur to Pune on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Thursday morning. All passengers were evacuated safely before the blaze could spread, officials said.
The incident took place around 7.30am on the Pune-bound carriageway near Khalapur Toll Plaza, within the limits of Rasayani police station.
The bus was carrying passengers from Rajasthan when smoke and flames were noticed. Passengers were alerted and managed to get off the vehicle safely. No casualties were reported.
Fire brigade and rescue teams rushed to the spot after receiving information and brought the blaze under control. Teams from Panvel Municipal Corporation and Khopoli Municipal Council also joined the firefighting operation.
View this post on Instagram
Police said the exact cause of the fire is being ascertained, though preliminary information points to a fault in the bus’s AC system.
