A devastating road accident unfolded on Thursday evening near Navale Bridge on the Katraj Dehu Road Bypass of the Pune-Bangalore Highway, leaving eight people dead and around 13 others injured. According to police reports, a speeding truck en route to Mumbai from Satara lost control, possibly due to brake failure, and collided with multiple vehicles at approximately 5:30 pm.The impact was severe, with one car caught fire after being crushed between the truck and a container traveling on the same route. Pune city police and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene promptly.
Pune City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, along with other officials, visited the accident site to oversee the rescue operations.Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam described the intensity of the crash, noting the car’s fiery destruction. Eight fire tenders, rescue vans, and water tankers were deployed to extinguish the flames. Five people in the car and two in the truck—including the driver and cleaner—lost their lives, with their bodies severely burnt.Pune Fire Brigade chief Devendra Potphode detailed the challenging rescue, explaining that the truck was heavily loaded with iron pieces and rods.
The car, likely fitted with a CNG kit, may have experienced an explosion after catching fire. Among the victims in the car were two women and a two-year-old girl in the backseat, with two men occupying the front seats. Removing the burned casualties from the wreckage proved extremely difficult.The bodies were taken to Sassoon Hospital for postmortem, and police are working to identify the deceased. An investigation into the exact cause of the accident is underway, and a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed at the Sinhagad Road Police Station.
The accident caused panic and significant traffic congestion in the area. At least three vehicles were set ablaze. Authorities are working to clear the damaged vehicles while injured individuals receive treatment at nearby hospitals.DCP (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav issued a traffic advisory, closing the lane from Satara to Mumbai near Navale Bridge and advising motorists to use the old Katraj Ghat route as an alternative for several hours.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences on X, stating, “The incident of some people losing their lives in the accident on the Navale bridge in Pune is extremely tragic and heartbreaking.
-
-
-
-
