Speeding Car Crash Claims Three Lives at Pune Metro Station

Three young men lost their lives early on March 10, 2024, when their speeding car crashed into a pillar of the Pune Metro’s Bund Garden station. The accident occurred around 04:30 local time and left a community mourning the loss of three promising lives.

Victims Yash Bhandari and Om Bhandari, both aged 23 and engineers by profession, died at the scene. The third individual, Khushwant Tekwani, aged 20 and an engineering student from Beed district, succumbed to his injuries later at Sassoon General Hospital. According to officials from the Koregaon Park police station, Om was driving the hatchback with Tekwani as a passenger and Yash seated in the rear.

The car was severely damaged in the collision, with CCTV footage revealing that it spun out of control before crashing into the pillar at high speed. Police confirmed that the vehicle was traveling from Mangaldas Chowky towards Bund Garden Bridge when the incident occurred.

Police are still piecing together the events leading up to the crash. “We are yet to get full details of where the three men were during the night and how exactly the accident happened,” a police officer stated. The footage suggests that the driver may have attempted to use the handbrake to regain control of the vehicle. One of the victims had reportedly left home on Saturday night, telling his mother he was going out for dinner.

In a concerning development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-II) Milind Mohite indicated that beer bottles were found in the car. “A medical report is awaited to confirm whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol,” he noted. A postmortem examination has been conducted, and viscera has been preserved for further testing.

The family of the victims expressed their sorrow. Arun Bhandari, the uncle of Yash and Om, described them as scholars dedicated to their studies. “Om lost his father at a young age and went abroad on a scholarship for higher studies. After returning, he began working in a private firm. He is survived by his sister and mother, who runs a garment business,” he explained.

Yash, who recently completed his engineering degree and joined an IT firm in Baner, was remembered by a neighbor as a studious and health-conscious individual. “He was always focused on his studies and loved bodybuilding,” the neighbor said.

Witnesses recounted the chaotic moments following the crash. Sudhir Kotian, a cook at an eatery under the Bund Garden Metro Station, described hearing a loud thud. “When I came outside, I saw a mangled car. The driver was unconscious, and we pulled him out with the help of some locals,” he recalled.

As investigations continue, the community grapples with the tragic loss of these young lives, each with bright futures ahead of them.