Pune Hospital Bomb Scare: FIR Registered After Explosive Device Found in Hadapsar Hospital
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Hadapsar, 14th May 2026: A major catastrophe was narrowly averted on Wednesday evening after an active explosive device was discovered inside a washroom at Usha Kiran Hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area.
The bomb-like object was safely isolated and subsequently neutralized by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of Pune City Police.
According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 0347) registered at the Hadapsar Police Station, the terrifying ordeal unfolded on May 13, 2026. At approximately 7:00 PM, Dr. Vilas Gaikwad (director) and the hospital’s admin coordinator, Pramod Bhagwat Bhalke (28), were conducting routine rounds in the first-floor ICU ward.
Noticing a light left on in the adjacent men’s washroom, the two men entered to turn it off. Tucked beneath the left-side washbasin, they spotted a highly suspicious object. The device was constructed of four white cylindrical tubes—each about a hand-span in length—wired together and connected to a running electrical clock.
When Dr. Gaikwad carefully shifted the object, an ominous ticking sound was heard, and the attached digital clock displayed the time “07:21”.
Recognizing the imminent threat to the lives of numerous critically ill patients and their visiting relatives, the staff acted swiftly. Dr. Gaikwad immediately placed the explosive device into an empty saline cardboard box. Risking his own life, Bhalke carried the box out of the hospital and deposited it in an open, unpopulated area directly opposite the facility.
The Hadapsar Police were alerted instantly and rushed to the scene, quickly securing the perimeter. They were shortly joined by the specialized BDDS team. The bomb squad carefully transported the improvised explosive device (IED) to the Gliding Centre in Hadapsar, where they safely destroyed it via a controlled detonation.
Early Thursday morning, at 2:11 AM, the Hadapsar Police officially registered an FIR against an unidentified suspect. The police noted that the unknown individual planted the device with the explicit intent to commit murder, endanger human life, destroy property, and intentionally disrupt essential medical services.
Investigators have questioned around 17 to 18 people so far and are examining technical evidence and CCTV footage to identify those involved in the case.
Police are also probing reports of an earlier dispute between Dr Gaikwad and a neighbouring housing society. Officials are further examining why the suspicious object was moved despite standard instructions advising people not to touch such objects until the bomb disposal squad arrived.
“Police have not reached any conclusion yet. Since the object was found near the ICU area, where there is constant movement of patients’ relatives, the investigation may take time,” Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said.
The case has been registered under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, alongside Sections 109 (Attempt to murder), 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 288 (Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
