Watch | PMPML electric bus catches fire in Pune, probe launched

Electric buses were added to Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd’s fleet in 2018. This is the first major fire in a PMPL electric bus since then, an official said.

The incident occurred at Kalubai Chowk on the Pune-Solapur Road. While the commuters escaped unhurt, the vehicle suffered major damages on its rear side. (Express File)

An electric bus belonging to the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) caught fire in Pune on Thursday evening, the first such incident since 2018. PMPML has launched a probe into the incident.

The incident occurred at Kalubai Chowk on the Pune-Solapur Road. While the commuters escaped unhurt, the vehicle suffered major damages on its rear side.

“The fire started in the compressor of the bus and then spread. Some seats and rear portion (of the bus) were damaged,” Ramesh Chavan, Chief Engineer, PMPML, said.

#PMPML electric bus catches fire in #Pune, probe launched https://t.co/sxXq0YqOLm pic.twitter.com/ut35wtz2EU

— Express Pune Resident Editor (@ExpressPune) September 13, 2024

On Thursday evening, a few two-wheeler riders noticed smoke coming out of the rear side of the bus and alerted the driver. The driver quickly moved the bus away from the road and brought it to a halt. Even as the passengers were getting down, a fire broke out in the rear side of the bus.

The conductor and driver tried to douse the fire with the firefighting equipment installed in the bus and alerted the fire brigade. After the fire brigade arrived, the blaze was doused.

“There was no loss of life or injury to any passenger. The fire spread after around 30-35 passengers got down from the vehicle but it was doused by the fire brigade,” Ashok Sable, head of the accident department, PMPML, said.

Chavan said the Central Institute of Road Transport will investigate the incident. “This was the first fire to an electric bus with PMPML. A few days back, one electric bus had reported a fire but that was a very minor one,” he added.

Chavan said PMPML roped in electric buses in 2018. “We have 490 electric buses. Compared to diesel and CNG buses, electric buses have led to major savings on the fuel front. Yesterday’s fire was the first since 2018 when the first electric bus was added to our fleet. Otherwise, electric buses have not given us major problems,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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