A luxury bus en route from Mumbai to Malvan caught fire near the Kashedi tunnel in Ratnagiri district early Sunday morning, August 24, 2025. The incident occurred around 2:00 AM when the bus was passing through the Kashedi tunnel area. According to preliminary information, the bus's tire overheated, causing it to ignite. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the entire vehicle.

There were approximately 40 to 45 passengers on board the private bus, all of whom were traveling to their native places in the Konkan region for the upcoming Ganesh festival. The alert driver noticed the fire and immediately stopped the bus on the side of the road, evacuating all passengers to safety. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, averting a major disaster.

However, all the passengers' belongings were destroyed in the fire. As the fire started, passengers rushed out of the bus, and they did not have enough time to retrieve their luggage from the vehicle's storage. Most of the passengers were carrying a lot of luggage with them for the Ganesh festival.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the fire brigade from Khed Municipal Corporation rushed to the spot. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire after strenuous efforts. Alternative transportation arrangements were made for the stranded passengers to help them reach their respective villages.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Timely action by the driver saved the lives of all the passengers.

Due to the bus fire, traffic on the Mumbai-Goa highway was disrupted for some time. The incident caused a lot of panic among the passengers. In a similar incident on February 7, 2024, a private luxury bus caught fire on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway near the Savitri bridge near Mahad in Ratnagiri district. All 22 people on board, including the driver and assistants, escaped unhurt.