Pune: Fatal Bus Fire in Hinjawadi Was Deliberate; Bus Driver Set It Ablaze for Revenge, Confirms Pimpri Chinchwad Police
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Hinjawadi, 20th March 2025: In a shocking revelation, the Hinjawadi Tempo Traveller fire that claimed four lives and injured several others has been confirmed as a deliberate act of revenge by the driver, Janardan Hambardikar. According to Pimpri Chinchwad Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad, the driver’s motive was a combination of disputes with workers and anger over unpaid wages during Diwali. Hambardikar had planned the crime by storing benzene and rags in the bus the day before.
On the day of the incident, Hambardikar used a matchstick to ignite the rags, which quickly spread due to the benzene, engulfing the bus in flames. The driver has confessed to the crime, which occurred just 500 meters from the workers’ destination at Vyoma Graphics in Hinjawadi. The incident has raised serious concerns about transport safety and labor disputes.
The fire resulted in the deaths of Subhash Bhosale, Shankar Shinde, Gurudas Lokhare, and Rajan Chavan. Six others were injured, including the driver himself, who suffered burns on his stomach. The injured include Vishwas Khanvilkar, Sandeep Shinde, Vishwas Jori, Chandrakant Malji, and Pravin Nikam. Krushnarao Godase, Manjiri Adkar, Vitthal Dighe, and Pradeep Raut managed to escape with their lives.
The incident occurred yesterday, when the Tempo Traveller, registered as MH 14 CW 3548, was en route from Warje to the Vyoma Graphics office in Hinjawadi Phase I. The bus, which had a valid fitness certificate, caught fire after passing Wipro Circle, leaving everyone in shock. The harrowing visuals of the fire have left the community deeply disturbed, especially given that the vehicle was mere seconds away from its destination.
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The incident became a topic of discussion in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, with MLA Hemant Rasne raising concerns about the company’s responsibility towards the families of the deceased. He demanded maximum assistance for the affected families and urged the government to ensure the company fulfills its obligations.
Initially, suspicions pointed towards a possible electrical short circuit as the cause of the fire. However, the latest findings reveal that the driver’s actions were the primary cause of the tragedy. The vehicle had been inspected by RTO officials and company representatives, who found no mechanical issues prior to the incident.
The driver’s dissatisfaction stemmed from a dispute with the workers, who had complained about his side jobs to the office administration. Additionally, Hambardikar was unhappy with his compensation and the fact that his salary was not paid during Diwali. This combination of grievances led him to orchestrate the devastating act.
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The case is being investigated at the Hinjawadi Police Station, and the driver is currently under medical custody.
