A tragic collision on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway early Monday morning claimed the lives of a truck driver and his assistant, while leaving two others severely injured. The accident occurred on the Mumbai-bound carriageway near the Khopoli exit at approximately 4:10 am.
Details of the Accident
According to police, the truck carrying a consignment of rice lost control on a downward gradient of the Bhor ghat near Dheku village, close to the Khopoli exit. The out-of-control truck slammed into the rear of a container trailer loaded with edible oil tins. The impact caused the trailer driver to lose control as well, leading to a collision with a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) traveling ahead. The truck then toppled sideways after grazing the peripheral safety wall.
Victims and Injuries
The deceased were identified as truck driver Arvind Kumar Rangrao Allu (44) and his assistant Shiva Bhukka, both hailing from Andhra Pradesh. They were declared brought dead at the Khopoli sub-district hospital. The MUV occupant, Neelabai Saste (76), the grandmother of the MUV driver Saurabh Saste (26), sustained major injuries and was admitted to MGM Hospital in Kamothe. The MUV driver, his wife Vaishnavi (23), and his father Mukinda (56) escaped unhurt. The Saste family was returning to their Kharghar residence after visiting their native place in Satara. The container trailer driver, Mahendra Kumar Pal (39), also sustained severe injuries after his vehicle toppled and was admitted to the Khopoli sub-district hospital.
Traffic Disruption and Cleanup
The spillage of edible oil from the overturned container trailer spread across all four lanes of the Mumbai carriageway, disrupting vehicular movement toward Mumbai for over an hour. Cars heading toward Mumbai via the Connecting Link were halted approximately 6.5 kilometers from the accident spot near the Food Plaza. To decongest the expressway, vehicles were gradually diverted along one lane of the Pune carriageway until heavy vehicles were towed away and the spilled rice sacks and edible oil were cleared, said Police Inspector Sachin Hire of Khopoli police station.
Legal Action
Acting on a complaint by the MUV driver, an FIR was registered against the deceased truck driver under the BNS and IT Act for rash and negligent driving causing death.
Rescue and Recovery Operations
Khopoli police and Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) officers deployed a hydraulic crane to lift and tow away the two overturned heavy motor vehicles. To prevent skidding due to the spilled edible oil, teams from HSP, Khopoli police, IRB agency, members of NGO Help Foundation, Delta Force, and Devdoot Rescue team cleaned the four lanes by sprinkling dust.
