Onion Truck Overturn Causes Major Traffic Disruption on Pune-Bengaluru Highway
Traffic on the crucial Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH48) was severely disrupted for more than five hours on Thursday after an onion-laden truck overturned on a bridge near Kolhapur. The incident occurred at Ghunki, approximately 25 kilometers from Kolhapur city, bringing vehicular movement to a near standstill during the morning hours.
Timeline of the Disruption
The traffic chaos began at 6:15 AM and persisted until 11:30 AM, affecting thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles. The accident took place on a bridge over a nullah where ongoing six-laning construction between Satara and Kagal has already narrowed the highway. Authorities had created two temporary lanes using dividers to manage traffic flow through this constrained section.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to police officials, the truck driver appeared to have lost control while navigating the temporary diversion. The vehicle subsequently toppled, completely blocking one of the two available lanes. This single incident created a ripple effect, slowing traffic to a crawl for nearly four kilometers in both directions.
"The driver may have been speeding and misjudged the diversion, applying brakes abruptly and causing the vehicle to tip over," explained a highway police officer investigating the incident.
Emergency Response and Clearance Operations
Police teams from both the highway patrol and Peth Vadgaon station reached the accident site within thirty minutes of receiving the alert. Led by Highway Police Sub-Inspector Ravindra Gaikwad and Assistant Police Inspector Satyaraj Ghule, officers initially began removing onion sacks manually to clear the roadway.
The clearance operation escalated with the arrival of two cranes that were deployed to upright the overturned truck. Once stabilized, a towing vehicle dragged the truck away, finally freeing the remaining lane for traffic flow to resume normally.
Human Impact and Aftermath
The truck driver fled the scene immediately following the mishap. However, the accompanying farmer, identified as Balasaheb Pandurang Harpale from Shrigonda, sustained injuries in the accident. Harpale had loaded the onions for sale in Kolhapur markets when the unexpected incident occurred.
The traffic congestion extended from the Kini Toll Plaza on the Kolhapur side to Tandulwadi toward Pune, creating significant delays for travelers and commercial transporters alike.
Broader Context of Highway Safety Concerns
This incident highlights ongoing safety challenges along the Satara-Kagal corridor, where six-laning work has been progressing for approximately two years. Multiple accidents have been reported in this section during the construction period, raising concerns about temporary traffic management measures.
Compounding the situation, bridge construction over the Warana river—marking the boundary between Kolhapur and Sangli districts—is also underway nearby, adding to the complexity of traffic management in the region.
"The expanded carriageway and new bridges are intended to eliminate accident-prone spots and reduce crashes in the long term," emphasized an official involved in the highway development project, acknowledging the temporary challenges while highlighting the anticipated safety improvements once construction concludes.
