Two killed in truck collision near missing link on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Vehicles on the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Friday. Pic/By Special Arrangement

A major traffic jam was reported on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway around 5 pm on Friday after three trucks collided on the Mumbai-bound carriageway ahead of the newly opened missing link.

According to the highway police, the accident claimed the life of a driver and cleaner of the same truck, while the drivers of the two other trucks sustained injuries.

Tanaji Chikhale, superintendent of the Maharashtra Highway Traffic Police, told mid-day, "A truck met with an accident, following which paint spilt across the road. The driver and cleaner died on the spot, while the two other drivers were seriously injured."

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed from the Khalapur side in Raigad district, with several commuters stranded for nearly two hours. Traffic on the Mumbai-to-Pune carriageway, however, remained smooth.

Police and traffic authorities rushed to the spot to launch immediate clearance operations. Officials said both lanes were cleared and vehicular movement was restored around 8.47 pm.

The newly operational missing link on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway had recently eased congestion in the Khandala Ghat section and significantly reduced travel time. However, Friday's accident and paint spillage slowed the movement of traffic towards Mumbai to a crawl, triggering massive congestion.

8.47 pm
Time vehicular movement was restored