Twelve people were injured after a speeding car rammed into pedestrians near a tea stall in Pune’s Vishrambaug. Two individuals, including the driver, have been arrested. CCTV footage sparks outrage.
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Chaos in Vishrambaug: Speeding Car Rams Into Pedestrians Outside Tea Shop, 12 Injured in Pune
Pune | May 31, 2025 — In a horrifying late-night incident that has left Pune residents rattled, a speeding car rammed into a group of pedestrians gathered near a tea stall in the busy Vishrambaug area on Saturday. The crash injured 12 individuals, several of them critically. Local police have arrested two suspects, including the driver, and launched an investigation.
The incident, which was caught on surveillance footage, quickly went viral, sparking debates on reckless driving, street safety, and youth-fueled negligence on city roads.
12 Injured as Speeding Car Ploughs Into Crowd Near Tea Shop in Pune’s Vishrambaug
What Happened: A Night Turned Nightmare
According to eye-witnesses and CCTV recordings, the accident occurred at approximately 9:15 PM when a white hatchback, allegedly moving at high speed, lost control near the Chai Junction tea stall — a popular evening hangout spot near the Vishrambaug signal.
“It happened within seconds. People were chatting, sipping tea, when the car came crashing through the crowd like a missile,” said Aniket Joshi, a local college student who escaped with minor bruises.
The car ploughed through several people, knocking some into a nearby fruit cart and others against parked vehicles. Bystanders rushed to aid the injured before police and ambulance services arrived on scene.
The Casualties: Several Critical, One in ICU
Out of the 12 injured, five were hospitalized, with one 26-year-old man in critical condition at Sassoon General Hospital, battling head and chest trauma. Others sustained multiple fractures, lacerations, and shock-induced conditions.
Doctors confirmed that three of the injured were students, while others were tea shop staff and regular patrons.
The Arrests: Alleged Drunken Driving, Reckless Behavior
Vishrambaug Police Station confirmed the arrest of:
Aditya Kale (24), the driver of the vehicle
Rohan Bhandari (23), his co-passenger and car owner
Preliminary reports suggest the two were intoxicated at the time of the incident, having attended a private gathering in the Model Colony area earlier that evening.
“We have registered a case under Section 279, 337, 338, and 304A of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act and the NDPS Act,” said Inspector S.S. Pawar. Blood alcohol tests were conducted and reports are awaited.
The car has been impounded and its black-box-like ECU data is being reviewed to verify speed and brake usage.
CCTV Video Sparks Online Outrage
Footage from a nearby general store’s surveillance camera shows the car approaching at high speed, veering left into the crowd. The graphic video, which has now been circulated across social media platforms, has led to widespread public anger.
On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #PuneHitAndRun, #JusticeForVictims, and #StreetSafetyNow began trending by midnight.
“When will Pune act against speed demons? Is our safety worth less than late-night thrills?” one user posted, tagging the Maharashtra Home Ministry.
Political & Civic Response
Pune’s Deputy Mayor Dr. Sharvani Deshmukh visited the hospital and met families of the injured.
“This isn’t just a road accident. It’s a failure of enforcement and a disregard for human life. I will ensure the strongest charges are pursued,” she said, calling for 24x7 monitoring of nightlife zones and speed-breaker installation in crowded areas.
Local MLA Sunil Kadam has urged the Pune Police Commissioner to review weekend patrol density, especially around youth gathering spots.
Recurring Pattern: The Rise of Reckless Youth Driving
This incident marks the fifth such major crash in Pune in the last 60 days involving:
Overspeeding
Modified cars
Alleged intoxication
Earlier in May, a sports bike ran over a delivery worker in Kothrud. In April, a student-led car crash in Baner injured a family of four.
Citizens are demanding stricter enforcement of night-time speed limits, random DUI checks, and social accountability from clubs and party venues serving alcohol to underage or unregistered guests.
Conclusion: Call for Accountability & Safer Streets
As victims lie wounded and their families shaken, the city of Pune must now confront a hard truth: without proactive enforcement and cultural change, the roads will continue to be battlegrounds between recklessness and innocence.
For now, the injured await justice. And Pune—scarred yet again—asks how many more tea breaks must turn into nightmares.
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