Palghar tempo-truck collision: FIR against both drivers for traffic violations

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Police have registered an FIR against the drivers of both a tempo and a truck following a deadly collision on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district that claimed 13 lives and left 14 others injured, officials said on Tuesday, reported PTI.

The accident took place near Dhaniwari village in Dahanu taluka at around 4 pm on Monday when a tempo carrying passengers to an engagement ceremony collided with a sand-laden truck, reported PTI.

According to police, the 45-year-old tempo driver has been detained for questioning, while the injured truck driver remains under treatment at a hospital under police supervision.

Tempo was allegedly travelling on wrong side of highway

Officials said preliminary investigations indicated that the tempo was travelling on the wrong side of the Mumbai-Gujarat carriageway in an attempt to avoid a longer route, reported PTI.

A statement issued by the Palghar district administration said the truck approaching from the opposite direction lost control before its container box crashed into the left side of the tempo.

A motorcycle was also caught in the collision, further worsening the impact.

The truck later overturned, trapping several victims beneath the cargo. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and launched operations to pull out passengers trapped under the wreckage, reported PTI.

Police said the tempo was carrying between 30 and 40 passengers at the time of the crash.

FIR registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act

An official from Kasa Police Station said an FIR has been registered against both drivers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act for alleged traffic violations and negligent driving, reported PTI.

The tempo driver was taken into custody for further investigation soon after the accident.

The truck driver, who sustained injuries in the collision, is being treated at a hospital and remains under police watch.

Authorities are expected to examine vehicle conditions, traffic movement and eyewitness statements as part of the ongoing investigation, reported PTI.

Ganesh Naik cites traffic violations as major cause

Palghar District Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik visited the accident site late Monday night and later met survivors receiving treatment at the hospital, reported PTI.

Speaking to reporters, Naik said heavy traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway and the tempo driver's decision to take a wrong-side shortcut contributed to the fatal accident.

"This highway witnesses heavy traffic. There is a dire need for greater awareness regarding traffic regulations and the law. In an unfortunate attempt to avoid a long route and take a shortcut, the tempo was driven on the wrong side of the highway, which led to this collision," Naik said, reported PTI.

He also pointed out that dangerous driving practices and traffic violations are frequently seen on the route.

The minister referred to another recent incident on the same highway in which a dumper collided with a vehicle carrying Palghar BJP MP Hemant Sawra on May 1. While the MP escaped unhurt, the driver of the car suffered minor injuries, reported PTI.

Injured victims undergoing treatment in hospital

According to Palghar regional disaster cell official Subash Bagde, all 14 injured persons were admitted to Vedanta Hospital in Dahanu for treatment, reported PTI.

Three of the injured remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while the condition of the remaining patients is reported to be stable.

Officials said postmortem examinations of the deceased victims have been completed and the bodies are being handed over to family members.

Dahanu Tehsildar Sunil Koli confirmed that administrative formalities related to identification and release of bodies were underway, reported PTI.

Government announces compensation for victims' families

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the accident.

Ganesh Naik also said the Maharashtra government would bear the full medical expenses of all injured victims and continue supporting them even after discharge from hospital.

The accident has once again raised concerns over road safety violations and traffic management on the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, which witnesses heavy commercial and passenger vehicle movement daily.

(With inputs from PTI)