Driver Sets Van on Fire in Pune, 4 People Burnt Alive

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Police investigating the fire incident involving a private company’s minibus near Pune have revealed that the driver, Janardan Hambardekar, deliberately set the vehicle on fire, resulting in the deaths of four employees. Pimpri Chinchwad Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Gaikwad stated in a press conference on Thursday that the fire was not an accident but rather a deliberate act of arson. According to the police, Hambardekar, who had been angered by a recent salary cut, harbored a dispute with some employees and sought revenge. However, the employees he was angry with were not among the four who perished in the incident.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Hinjewadi area near Pune, when a bus from Vyoma Graphics caught fire while carrying 14 employees. Gaikwad explained that Hambardekar had purchased benzene, an inflammable chemical, and used a cloth from the bus to start the fire. As the bus neared Hinjewadi, he lit a matchstick and set the cloth on fire, triggering the blaze.

Hambardekar, who also suffered injuries in the fire, was able to escape the bus along with several others. He is currently receiving treatment in the hospital and will be arrested once his condition stabilizes. In the aftermath of the fire, 10 passengers were burned, with two suffering serious injuries. The deceased employees were identified as Shankar Shinde (63), Rajan Chavan (42), Gurudas Lokare (45), and Subhash Bhosale (44). The police have confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway.