A chaotic early morning scene unfolded on Ghodbunder Road in Thane on Friday after a group of vehicles travelling on the wrong side of the road triggered a massive chain-reaction collision with a heavy truck. The incident left at least four people injured and caused severe traffic disruption for hours.
Chaos at Gaimukh Check Naka
The accident took place around 7 am near the Gaimukh check naka. According to police, the chain of events began when a group of at least nine vehicles, including cars and auto-rickshaws heading towards Mira Road and Borivli, dangerously entered the wrong carriageway. At the same time, a heavy truck loaded with approximately 25 tonnes of cement was descending towards Thane.
The truck rammed into the oncoming vehicles, causing a pile-up that eventually involved 14 vehicles. The impact was severe, causing extensive damage to the cars and autos. Police confirmed that preliminary investigations found the cars and auto-rickshaws were being driven recklessly against the lawful traffic flow.
Aftermath and Emergency Response
The collision led to immediate hazards, including oil leakage from the wreckage. Teams from the Kasarvadavali police station, traffic police, the civic disaster management cell, and the fire brigade rushed to the spot. To prevent secondary accidents, responders covered the spilled oil with soil.
Four injured persons were shifted to private hospitals for treatment. Several others with minor injuries received first aid at nearby medical facilities. In a concerning development, the driver of the cement truck reportedly fled the scene after the accident. Furthermore, police said five vehicles involved left the spot without providing any intimation.
Legal Action and Major Traffic Snarl
An FIR has been registered in connection with the crash. The drivers of the wrong-side vehicles have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. A search is on for the absconding truck driver, and further investigation is underway.
The accident brought traffic on both carriageways of the busy Ghodbunder Road to a complete standstill for over two hours. This resulted in long queues stretching several kilometres in both directions. Normal traffic movement was restored only by late morning after all the damaged vehicles were removed from the accident site.
