Passenger Pulls Bus Steering Wheel in Latur, Overturning Bus and Injuring Driver

A passenger allegedly pulled the steering wheel of a moving State Transport (ST) bus on the Latur-Ausa road in Latur, Maharashtra, causing the vehicle to crash into three parked school buses and overturn on Monday afternoon at around 2:30 pm.

According to Latur depot manager Rathod, the ST bus was travelling on its route from Latur to Ausa when a male passenger suddenly entered the driver's cabin. The passenger forcefully grabbed and pulled the steering wheel while exclaiming, "I want to die." The sudden intervention caused the vehicle to go out of control, resulting in a collision with three school buses parked along the roadside before the ST bus overturned on one side of the road.

The driver of the bus, identified as 50-year-old Mahadev Devrao Devgunde, sustained serious injuries to his hand and face during the crash. He was admitted to a private hospital in Latur city, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Nearly five passengers aboard the vehicle suffered minor injuries and were taken to a government hospital for medical care. Depot manager Rathod stated that no fatalities or major injuries were reported among the passengers.

Video footage from the scene shows the injured driver in a bloodied state holding the passenger by his collar following the crash. Passengers on board confronted the man over his act, with another passenger physically assaulting him while others hurled abuses at him for risking their lives.

The passenger was detained by the police after driver Devgunde lodged a formal complaint regarding his conduct. Further details regarding the case are awaited.