AT LEAST three people were injured after a Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus crashed into seven vehicles including four bikes near the busy Chandani Chowk junction on Tuesday evening following a suspected brake failure. Police said that the condition of the three injured persons was stable. The incident took place around 6.30 pm on a downward slope of the road that connects Chandani Chowk to Paud Phata. "Initial probe suggests that following suspected brake failure, the driver of the PMPML bus lost control and rammed into seven vehicles that included one four-wheeler, two auto-rickshaws and four bikes. Three persons have sustained injuries. The PMPML driver has been detained for questioning." Senior inspector Sandeep Deshmane, in-charge of Kothrud police station said, "After the accident, our teams rushed to the spot. The injured persons have been admitted to hospital. Their condition is stable." Officials said that since the accident took place during the peak traffic hour, it led to a traffic jam on the road. "Teams from the local police station and local traffic division were deployed to clear the traffic. The vehicular flow was brought back to normal half an hour after the accident." an officer said. Officials said that the vehicle will be examined by the officials from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) who will ascertain whether there was a brake failure. Based on their report a case will be registered at Kothrud police station. The Chandani Chowk traffic junction on the Katraj Dehu Road bypass of the Pune Bangalore Highway has been one of the busiest traffic junctions in the city. After facing years of traffic snarls, a 30-year-old bridge at Chandani Chowk was demolished in October 2022, to make way for the construction of a new bridge built later.
