Thane MACT Awards ₹5.17 Lakh to Farmer Injured in Kinhavali MSRTC Bus Crash
The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Thane has awarded ₹5.17 lakh compensation along with 9% annual interest to a 44-year-old agriculturist who sustained permanent disability after an MSRTC bus collided with his motorcycle near Umbhrai village under the Kinhavali police jurisdiction.
In an order delivered on September 8, 2026, the tribunal held that the accident occurred due to the sole negligence of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus driver. The tribunal formally dismissed the transport corporation's contention that the motorcyclist was partly responsible for the fatal crash.
The collision took place on October 13, 2019, at around 8:30 pm. The claimant, Ananta Mahadu Vishe, was riding his motorcycle home from Umbhrai village with Shripat Bhau Ubale as his pillion rider. According to the claimant, an oncoming State Transport bus attempted to overtake a tempo, crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and rammed into their two-wheeler.
Both riders were thrown onto the road, sustaining grave injuries. Vishe was immediately taken to Meera Hospital in Kalyan before being shifted to SMBT Hospital in Nashik for specialized care. Vishe suffered severe facial pain and swelling, had difficulty opening his mouth, and was advised six months of bed rest. Ubale succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Following the incident, the Kinhavali police registered a case against the bus driver under stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code as well as Sections 184 and 186 of the Motor Vehicles Act, later submitting a chargesheet.
The MSRTC contested the claim, denying negligence and arguing that the motorcycle was being driven at high speed without operating lights or signals. On these grounds, the corporation sought an assessment of 50% contributory negligence against Vishe.
The tribunal rejected the transport corporation's defense, observing that while the bus driver and conductor backed the corporation's version, the driver had never lodged a police complaint against the motorcyclist. The tribunal also noted that the driver had not challenged the police chargesheet before any administrative authority or court, concluding that the crash was entirely caused by the reckless driving of the ST bus.
