Two charred to death as bus collides with CNG van on Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway in Palghar

MUMBAI: Two men in a van were charred to death while three passengers of a Maharashtra State Road Transport Bus (MSRTC) had a miraculous escape when the two vehicles collided on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway at Manor in Palghar district on Thursday.
Manor police said that the bus, on essential duty, was heading to Boisar. It had left from Borivli with three passengers, returning home after performing their duties. As the bus reached Varai Dekhale at Manor at around 3.30 pm, the bus driver Nilesh Bangre lost control of the vehicle, jumped the divider and landed on the Mumbai
lane. The bus went and collided with the Ecco van that was moving on the Mumbai lane.

When the collision happened, the CNG run van went up in flames. The fire spread to the bus. The van occupants Hitesh Barod and Prabhat Barod were charred to death. They were headed to their home in Bhayander. The three bus passengers and the conductor jumped out through the emergency exit at the rear end of the bus. They sustained minor bruises. Bangre who sustained minor injuries also managed to get out of the bus that was destroyed in the fire.
The two vehicles continued to be on fire for about an hour. The fire brigade personnel later undertook the cooling operation.
Police said that a case of causing death due to negligence has been registered against Bangre. He has been booked under sections 304 (a) (negligence), 279(causing hurt due to rash act), 336,337(rash driving endangering human life) and 427(mischief) of IPC. He has been taken in custody.