A major accident was narrowly avoided after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) passenger bus travelling from Nagpur to Deori lost one of its wheels near Sakoli on Friday morning. The incident took place around 10:20 am when the bus, bearing registration number MH 06/BW 0811, was carrying 36 passengers. Driver Nikhil Tambekar and conductor Sweety Nikhade were on duty at the time. The bus had nearly reached the Sakoli depot when the rear left-side wheel reportedly detached after the wheel nuts loosened and fell off. Fortunately, the alert driver sensed trouble and immediately brought the vehicle to a halt on the roadside, preventing a serious mishap.
According to officials, the detached wheel rolled away from the bus, creating a loud noise that caused panic among passengers for a brief period. The driver and conductor quickly evacuated everyone from the vehicle to ensure their safety. Senior officials of the transport corporation were informed immediately, following which assistance was dispatched from the Sakoli depot. No injuries were reported in the incident, but the episode has once again raised concerns regarding the maintenance standards of state transport buses. Authorities stated that an inquiry will be conducted to determine responsibility for the mechanical failure and to examine whether negligence in maintenance led to the dangerous situation.