PUNE, India — A tragic accident on the Pune-Bengaluru highway claimed the lives of at least eight people and left several others injured when a trailer truck careened into a line of vehicles on Thursday evening. The collision occurred on the Bhumkar Bridge-Navale Bridge stretch, a busy route frequently traveled by commuters and commercial vehicles.
The devastating incident unfolded as the trailer truck, laden with iron beads, lost control and struck a total of 13 vehicles, including two trucks, multiple cars, and a minibus. The impact was so forceful that one car became wedged between two heavy vehicles, leading to a catastrophic explosion from its CNG cylinder, which ignited a massive fire. Eyewitness reports described a scene of chaos as flames engulfed the vehicles.
Among the deceased were five family members returning from a trip, including a three-year-old girl. The victims were identified as Swati Santosh Navalkar, her parents, and their family friend’s daughter. The driver of the car also perished in the inferno. The eighth casualty, a 25-year-old man, later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, prompting grief for families involved.
Pune Police Chief Amitesh Kumar provided insight into the sequence of events, stating that the trailer truck erupted into flames after colliding with another truck, itself loaded with plastic beads. The intense heat and smoke made rescue efforts challenging, with first responders taking nearly two hours to recover the victims’ bodies from the wreckage.
As authorities worked to manage the aftermath, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister announced financial compensation for the families of those who lost their lives. He expressed condolences on social media, emphasizing the tragedy of the incident and its impact on the local community.
Rescue operations were conducted quickly following the crash, as emergency services transported the injured to nearby hospitals, including the well-known Sassoon General Hospital. A specialized team was dispatched to perform DNA sampling and forensic examinations to facilitate identification procedures for the deceased.
Witnesses described hearing a loud noise followed by a crashing sound and an explosion. One observer recalled watching as the truck dragged the car before colliding with another vehicle. First responders arrived within minutes, but by that time, the flames had spread quickly, making rescue attempts increasingly complicated.
Officials from the traffic police redirected vehicles to alternate routes to relieve gridlock, as traffic towards Mumbai ground to a halt due to the accident. The affected highway is a critical link for commuters traveling to the city’s prominent IT hub of Hinjewadi.
The tragic event has heightened concerns regarding road safety on this stretch of the highway, which has seen multiple accidents in recent years. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure better enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent further loss of life and promote safer driving conditions for all motorists.