Sena leader, four others, hurt in crash on expressway

Rajya Sabha member Bharatkumar Raut and four others were injured in an accident near Devale bridge, Lonavala, on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway on Sunday.

Rajya Sabha member Bharatkumar Raut and four others were injured in an accident near Devale bridge, Lonavala, on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway on Sunday.

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Inspector Mohan Jadhav of the Lonavala rural police station said the mishap occured around 4 pm when Raut was travelling in a Honda City, along with two of his friends. “Raut who was driving the car suddenly lost control and the car overturned. It then hit a Zen car which was coming from the opposite direction,” he said.

Police said they suspected that a tyre burst could have been reason for the car suddenly losing control.

Raut, a Shiv Sena leader, was immediately taken to Nigdi’s Lokmanya hospital where he was reported to be stable.

Doctors treating Raut said his head was bleeding when he was brought into the hospital. “A CT scan was performed on Raut. His condition is currently stable and he is conscious. However, Raut will be under observation for the next 24 hours considering that he has suffered injuries to his head,” said Dr Jayawant Shrikhande.

Four others travelling in another car also suffered injuries after Raut’s Honda City hit their vehicle.

Arvind Hardas, who was accompanying Raut in his car, said their vehicle overturned owing to a tyre burst.