Four employees were charred to death while six employees sustained serious burns after a minibus caught fire at Pune’s Hinjewadi IT Park on Wednesday morning. This paper’s in-depth report stated that these employees were going to their workplace when the incident took place. A senior police inspector was quoted as stating in the report that a fire had erupted in the driver’s cabin.  Later, the Pune police revealed that the driver admitted to deliberately setting the vehicle on fire.  While the incident has been declared murder by the police, the problems highlighted by mid-day on Thursday still stand—there is no training, no accountability and companies hire agencies, which then subcontract the work. Back-to-back fatalities have sparked demands for stricter transport regulations, improved road infrastructure, and stronger safety checks. 

Employees, students, and residents often urge authorities to act immediately to prevent tragedies. It is unacceptable for doors to not open, effectively cutting off those inside the bus from an escape route. Vehicles need regular maintenance and companies are supposed to check that these are in good condition. If lapses are there, the contract should be terminated on the spot. This has to be non-negotiable and very strictly adhered to.