Police said that the 12 persons are from Jai Bhavani Nagar and Kishkinda Nagar localities of Kothrud. (Express photo: Pavan Khengre)

AN AMBULANCE ferrying 12 Covid-19 patients to a Covid care facility in Balewadi turned on its side, as the driver lost control of the vehicle, on the bypass road of Pune-Bengaluru highway on Monday afternoon.

According to police, the occupants of the vehicle sustained minor injuries in the accident, which took place near the main gate of High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) around 3 pm. The patients belong to two adjacent localities in Kothrud, and were being taken to a Covid facility in Balewadi area.

Senior Inspector Yashwant Gawari of Hinjewadi police station said, “There were twelve people in the ambulance. When the ambulance was passing through Bavdhan, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it turned on its side. The patients have sustained minor injuries. We were informed that all were Covid-19 positive.”

A police officer from Bavdhan police outpost said relatives of the 12 patients were travelling behind the ambulance in separate vehicles. Another ambulance was called to the spot after the accident and the patients were rushed to a Covid hospital in Lavale area, the officer added.