The ordeal began at the Wagholi depot. With the PMC-Wagholi-PMC bus idle, its driver left the ignition key behind while switching duties. An opportunistic individual boarded the empty vehicle and hit the accelerator, vanishing into the urban sprawl.

Charting a reckless path, the stolen bus roared into Deccan, crossed Nataraj Bridge, and then defied traffic rules by driving against the flow to Goodluck Chowk. Drivers swerved desperately, and walkers scattered in fear, as horns blared and hearts raced.

Control slipped away amid the mayhem, sending the bus crashing into the divider. Alert citizens pinned down the driver until police arrived for a swift apprehension.

Speaking exclusively, DCP Krishikesh Rawle detailed the sequence: ‘Keys left inside facilitated the theft. Wrong-side driving disrupted roads until the inevitable smash. No casualties, thankfully.’ The suspect’s demeanor points to sanity, pending medical checks.

Deccan Police have filed charges, launching an investigation. While the city exhaled in relief, this audacious act exposes vulnerabilities in fleet management. Stricter key-handling rules could avert future spectacles.