Barely a month after passengers were left stranded for hours on the Samruddhi Mahamarg without food and water, Nagpur-based Sanjay Travels has once again landed in controversy. This time one of its moving buses (MH40 CT 0957), with 50 passengers on board, caught fire in front of the Ranjangaon Mahaganpati Temple on the Pune-Ahilyanagar highway, on Friday. The bus was completely gutted in the incident.

 

The passengers included travellers from Nagpur. According to reports, the bus caught fire while on the highway, triggering panic among the passengers. Loud explosions were heard as the bus tyres and the diesel tank began bursting during the blaze, creating panic in the surrounding area. Traffic on the Pune-Ahilyanagar road remained disrupted for more than two hours as police halted vehicular movement and fire personnel worked to extinguish the flames.

 

The travel company attributed the fire to excess load on the alternator’s electrical lines, alleging that multiple passengers were simultaneously using laptop and mobile chargers in the charging ports provided inside the bus. However, transport observers say, the explanation raises another serious question: If the charging points are meant for passenger use, why are the electrical systems unable to handle the load safely? Experts point out that modern passenger buses are expected to be equipped with proper wiring, load management systems and fire-resistant electrical components to prevent such hazards.

 

This is the second time in recent weeks that the operator has come under the scrutiny. On February 14, a bus operated by the same company broke down on the Samruddhi Highway, leaving passengers stranded for hours with little assistance. Several travellers had complained that neither food nor water was arranged for them and that help arrived only after a long delay. The latest incident has further intensified criticism, with many questioning whether adequate maintenance checks are being carried out on the buses before they are put on the road.

 

Responding to the allegations, Aman Sonawane, Manager, Sanjay Travels, which had its office near Bole Petrol Pump, said, the presence of mind shown by the driver helped avert a major tragedy. According to him, driver Manoj Upadhyay quickly opened all emergency exits and ensured that passengers got down safely. Sonawane also claimed that the driver personally helped remove passengers’ luggage from the bus during the emergency.

 

The company stated that a replacement bus was dispatched immediately. Critics argue that blaming passengers for using the provided charging facilities shifts responsibility away from the operator. Instead, they say, the incident highlights the need for better-quality wiring and stronger electrical safeguards in passenger buses. With two controversies in less than a month, pressure is mounting on authorities to scrutinise the safety practices of private travel operators. For many passengers, the question now is simple: if basic safety systems fail, how safe are these journeys?