Hinjewadi Accident: Three Siblings Killed as Drunk Bus Driver Loses Control

Hinjewadi Accident: A Detailed Look at the Tragic Case and Road Safety Issues in Hinjawadi

Hinjawadi, also known as Hinjewadi, is one of the busiest places in Pune because of the large IT Park and thousands of people who travel daily. With so much movement, the area often faces traffic problems and many accidents. The recent Hinjewadi Accident, where three young siblings lost their lives after a company bus ran over them, has once again shown how unsafe some roads in Hinjawadi have become.

This article explains the full incident in simple words, shares details from the police, looks at other accidents in the same month, and discusses road safety steps taken by the authorities. The goal is to keep everything clear and easy to read while covering all the data you provided.

The Main Hinjewadi Accident: What Happened

The tragic Hinjawadi Accident took place on a Monday evening around 5:45 to 6:30 PM at Pancharatna Chowk, one of the common crossing points in Hinjewadi. A bus that was carrying IT employees lost control and climbed onto the footpath. Because of this, three schoolchildren who were walking home were hit.

Victims of the Accident

According to the police, the three children belonged to the Prasad family, who live in Hinjewadi.

• Priya Devendra Prasad (16) – seriously injured
• Aarchi / Archana Devendra Prasad (8 or 9) – died on the spot
• Suraj Devendra Prasad (6 or 10) – died on the spot

Two other people were also injured:

• Avinash Haridas Chavan (26) – seriously injured
• Vimal Ozarkar (40) – minor injuries

Reports confirmed that the younger siblings, Aarchi and Suraj, died immediately, while Priya was taken to Sassoon Hospital and is still in critical condition.

The father, Devendra Prasad, who runs a small dry-cleaning shop near the accident spot, said that his children were simply walking home after school when the bus hit them on the footpath.

Why the Accident Happened

Police investigations clearly showed that the bus driver, Nagnath Rajabhau Gujar, was driving under the influence of alcohol. He had consumed alcohol inside the bus itself earlier in the day. This is a shocking and serious problem because he was responsible for transporting 20–25 IT workers.

How the Crash Took Place

According to Hinjewadi Police and witnesses:

• The bus started from Phase 3 of Hinjewadi IT Park.
• It was supposed to drop employees towards Wakad.
• When the bus reached Pancharatna Chowk, the driver lost control.
• First, he hit a motorcycle.
• Then the bus climbed the footpath.
• The children, who were walking with their elder sister, were hit.
• The bus stopped only because it got stuck on a hoarding frame. Otherwise, the accident could have killed many more people.

The police later confirmed that the bus also damaged a footpath, an electric pole, and a roadside board before stopping.

Family Background: Prasad Family’s Loss

The Prasad family is originally from Uttar Pradesh. They shifted to Hinjawadi many years ago for work and currently live in a rented room in Waghere Chawl near Pancharatna Chowk.

Devendra Prasad and his wife have five children in total — four daughters and one son. Suraj was the youngest and the only boy in the family. He had recently started going to a nearby Zilla Parishad school.

The family runs a small laundry and dry-cleaning shop called Riya Laundry and Dry Cleaners. They earn a modest income and work hard every day to support their children. The accident has destroyed their world in just a few seconds, leaving them heartbroken.

Employee Reactions After the Accident

The bus had around 20–25 IT employees. According to the police, none of them were injured. But after the accident, almost all the employees immediately ran away from the spot. Police have noted this in their report.

Traffic Blocked After the Accident

As soon as the accident happened, there was heavy traffic between Pancharatna Chowk and the IT Park region. The blockage lasted for nearly 30 minutes. Traffic teams from Wakad and Hinjewadi worked to clear the road so that emergency vehicles and other traffic could pass.

Police Actions and Arrests

The police acted quickly and arrested the drunk driver at the spot. Later, they also filed cases against:

• The manager of the bus company
• A sub-vendor
• The owner of Maitreya Travels
• The person responsible for checking the driver’s fitness and safety

This is because the bus driver was allowed to drive even though he was drunk, and no proper check was done.

The Mulshi court has sent the driver and two others into police custody for further questioning.

How the Accident Could Have Become Worse

One shocking detail is that the bus would have gone further into a crowded road if the hoarding frame had not blocked its movement. If the hoarding was not there, the accident could have taken many more lives because this road is always busy, especially in the evenings.

Even gatai (small stall) workers on the footpath had to jump aside to save themselves.

Other Serious Accidents in Hinjewadi in November

This Hinjewadi Accident is not the only major case. November saw several serious incidents in and around Hinjawadi. Here is a summary in simple form.

November Accident Report Table

Date	Place	Victim	Details
18 Nov	Balewadi	Anurag Chandamare (7) died	Hit by a tempo while travelling on a bike
18 Nov	Sus	Vaishali Pakhare (44) died	Dump truck hit her while she was on a bike
19 Nov	Wakad	Akir Sheikh (25) died	Hit by a PMPML bus under Jagtap Dairy bridge
19 Nov	Wakad	Venkatesh Pawar died	Hit by a fast-moving unknown vehicle
20 Nov	Punawale	Mejo M.M. (42) died	Truck hit a chemical tanker parked dangerously
21 Nov	Marunji	Rida Khan died	Cement mixer hit her bike
22 Nov	Lavale Phata	Vaibhav Malapote died	Dump truck hit his bike

These cases show that accidents are becoming more common around Hinjewadi and nearby areas. Many involve heavy vehicles, overspeeding, and careless driving.

Police Steps to Reduce Hinjawadi Accidents

After seeing so many cases, the police took several steps in November to reduce accidents in Hinjawadi.

Key Safety Steps Taken

1. Heavy Vehicle Restrictions

Heavy vehicles cannot enter the IT Park during peak hours:

• Morning: 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Evening: 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

If drivers break rules, their vehicle can be seized.

2. Daily Vehicle Checks

Owners must check:

• Tyres
• Brakes
• Lights
• Speed limit
• Tyre pressure

If they fail to do this, they may face strict action.

3. No Mobile Use and No Alcohol

Drivers must not use mobile phones or drink alcohol. Owners must make sure the driver is sober before starting work.

Every vehicle must have:

• Dash camera
• Cabin camera

4. Driver Training

The police also planned awareness sessions and training programs to help drivers understand rules better.

5. Breath Tests

From January to October, 3,238 drunk drivers have already been caught in the area. Police officers said they will continue strict checks.

These steps show how seriously the police are now looking at accident control in Hinjewadi.

Why Hinjawadi Needs Better Road Safety

The Hinjawadi Accident involving the Prasad children has opened many discussions. People working in the IT Park say that roads are crowded with buses, bikes, cars, trucks, and pedestrians, all moving close to each other.

Some common safety problems include:

• Overspeeding
• Drivers ignoring signals
• No footpath in some areas
• Heavy vehicles entering at the wrong time
• Lack of monitoring of private transport buses
• Poor road design in a few places
• Drunk driving cases increasing

Because thousands of people walk near the IT Park every day, even a small mistake can lead to a serious accident.

Voices From the Community

Many residents and workers in Hinjewadi say that this incident was preventable. They believe:

• Companies should check their drivers before sending buses.
• Police should strictly monitor peak-hour traffic.
• Footpaths should be clear and safe.
• Overspeeding buses should be fined heavily.

After the accident, many people gathered near the spot demanding justice and better safety in Hinjewadi.

Impact on Traffic and Local Life

After the Hinjewadi Accident, many parents in Hinjawadi said they are now worried about their children walking near busy roads. Deliveries, office travel, and daily routines were also affected because of the traffic blocks.

Shop owners near the accident spot said that they saw the bus coming at high speed and had no time to react. Many said they want better signals and more police presence.

Responsibility of Transport Companies

This accident showed a major failure in the system. The bus driver consumed alcohol during duty hours, and no one checked him. Transport companies must:

• Conduct daily alcohol tests
• Monitor behaviour of drivers
• Install GPS and cameras
• Give drivers enough rest
• Train them properly

Without these steps, Hinjawadi accidents will keep happening.

What Needs to Change in Hinjewadi

To make Hinjewadi safer, a few things must improve:

• Better speed control
• More traffic police during peak hours
• Strict fines for rash driving
• Proper footpaths
• Awareness for children
• Better checks for company buses
• Cameras at busy junctions

Hinjewadi is an important workplace for lakhs of people. Road safety must match the scale of activity here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why are so many accidents happening in Hinjewadi?

Because of high traffic, overspeeding, careless driving, heavy vehicles, and lack of proper checks on transport buses.

2. Who were the victims in the main Hinjewadi Accident?

Three siblings from the Prasad family — Aarchi, Suraj, and Priya. Two died on the spot; one is critical.

3. Was the driver drunk?

Yes. Police confirmed the driver had consumed alcohol inside the bus before duty.

4. Are companies also responsible?

Yes. Police have filed cases against the bus company’s managers and owners for not doing safety checks.

5. What steps are being taken now?

Heavy vehicle restrictions, driver checks, breath tests, training programs, and strict fines.

6. Are footpaths safe in Hinjewadi?

Many areas still need improvement. The accident happened because the bus climbed onto the footpath.

The Hinjewadi Accident is one of the saddest events the area has seen. It shows how dangerous roads can become when rules are ignored. Three young children lost their lives simply while walking home. Their family, already working hard to survive, now lives with a loss that can never be repaired.

This tragedy must push everyone — police, drivers, companies, and citizens — to think about road safety in Hinjawadi. If proper checks, good behaviour, and safety rules are followed, such accidents can be prevented. Hinjewadi is growing fast, and safer roads must grow with it.

To check more about Hinjewadi, Click Here.