PUNE: At least 15 passengers on board a PMPML bus had a narrow escape after it veered off the road while driving down a slope, climbed on a footpath and crashed through the compound wall of the Yashoda housing society on Karve Road around 2.50pm on Friday.No one was reportedly injured, but a major accident was averted considering that the crash site is part of the busy stretch connecting Warje flyover junction with Karve statue junction. The bus had crossed the T-junction near the Vandevi temple and was driving down a slope towards the Dahanukar circle when it veered off the road and crashed into the compound wall close to the circle.The bus was on way to the PMC head office in Shivajinagar from the NDA Gate at Uttamnagar. Satish Gate, the PMPMLs public relations officer, told TOI, "An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. We will be able to make an exact comment on the cause of accident after experts from the regional transport office inspect the bus and submit a report." Another official from the PMPMLs accident department said, "The driver told us that the brakes of the bus stopped working suddenly and he had no option but to steer the bus to the left before it crashed through the compound wall."An officer from the Alankar police told TOI, "Our beat marshals visited the spot on receiving the call about the accident near the Dahanukar circle. The bus has been removed from the spot. So far, we havent received any complaint relating to the crash." "One can understand a technical problem or a tyre puncture but a brake failure is serious and raises questions about the overall functioning of the transport body," said Krishna Doshi, a Koregaon Park residentes. "It is shocking that the bus lost control due to brake failure. I dont think the PMPML is doing any maintenance at all," said Sudip Dhanwe, resident of Fatimnagar "Such incidents are scary and if brake failure was the result of the accident, it raises questions about maintenance of vehicles," said PMP Pravasi Manch activist Sanjay Shitole said.

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