In a terrifying case of reckless driving, a speeding car rammed into a roadside tea stall in Pune’s Sadashiv Peth on Saturday evening, leaving 12 people, mostly young MPSC aspirants injured. The crash, which occurred near Bhave High School, is believed to be caused by a drunk driver who lost control of the vehicle.
Evening Break Turns into Nightmare
The accident took place around 5:30 pm, when a group of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants had stepped out for tea. Without warning, a Hyundai Aura swerved off the road and slammed into them. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion, with students screaming and bystanders rushing to help before emergency services arrived.
Security camera footage that later went viral shows the white car barreling into the group near the stall, instantly knocking several people down. In the chaos that follows, some bystanders can be seen trying to lift the vehicle, while others help carry injured victims away including a man seen holding a bleeding woman in his arms.
Who Were the Injured?
Among the 12 injured were Payal Durge (26), Gulnaz Ahmed (23), Sonali Gholve (30), and Mangesh Suruse (33). Kishore Bhapkar (57) and several others suffered injuries ranging from fractures to internal trauma. Four victims were admitted to Sancheti Hospital in serious condition, while others received treatment at Yogesh and Modak hospitals.
Suspect Drunk; Arrests Made
Investigations led by the Vishrambaug Police revealed that the driver, Jairam Shivaji Mule (27), was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. He has been taken into custody along with co-passenger Rahul Gosavi and car owner Digambar Yadav Shinde. An FIR has been registered, and legal proceedings are underway.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle, the driver’s alcohol consumption played a key role in the crash. Mule also struck nearby parked vehicles before hitting the tea stall.
Crowd Turns Angry, Thrashes Accused
Eyewitnesses said that following the crash, a furious crowd pulled the driver and his co-passenger out of the vehicle and assaulted them before police intervened. People on the scene were visibly shaken, describing the incident as “something out of a nightmare.”
Online Outrage and Previous Incidents
As visuals circulated online, social media users voiced frustration at the repeat of such incidents in Pune. Comments ranged from anger to calls for stricter driving rules. One user posted, “A drunk man has destroyed young lives. We need tougher laws.”
This tragedy comes just a year after the Kalyani Nagar Porsche crash, where a similar case of drunk driving claimed a life. Another fatal crash involving a Mercedes on the Pune-Bengaluru highway last year also involved intoxicated drivers.