Major Multi-Vehicle Accident at Bhumkar Chowk
A significant road accident involving five vehicles occurred at Bhumkar Chowk in Pune on Monday afternoon, creating chaos on the busy Pune-Bengaluru Highway. The incident took place approximately two kilometers from the Navale bridge area, which had recently witnessed another tragic accident.
According to police reports, the chain-reaction collision happened around 1:45 PM when a speeding container truck traveling from Satara toward Mumbai via the Katraj bypass rear-ended a pick-up van. The impact caused a domino effect, resulting in three additional four-wheelers becoming involved in the mishap.
Police Response and Investigation
Authorities from the Sinhagad Road police station immediately responded to the scene after receiving information about the accident. The police team quickly launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the multi-vehicle pile-up.
Senior Police Inspector Dilip Daingade confirmed that no casualties were reported in this particular incident, providing some relief amid the concerning series of events. However, the officer disclosed that an offense of negligent driving has been registered against the container truck driver responsible for initiating the collision.
Disturbing Pattern on Stretch of Highway
This accident marks the second serious incident to occur in close proximity within a short timeframe. Inspector Daingade highlighted the alarming coincidence that this latest collision happened just days after another devastating accident at Navale bridge on November 13.
The previous incident proved far more tragic, claiming eight lives and leaving approximately thirteen people injured. That accident occurred around 5:40 PM when an overloaded truck traveling from Satara to Mumbai via the Katraj Dehu Road Bypass lost control on the Navale Bridge slope.
The impact of that collision was so severe that a car became sandwiched between the truck and a container, subsequently catching fire. Among the deceased were the truck driver and cleaner, along with five other individuals including a three-year-old girl.
In response to the earlier fatal accident, authorities had lodged a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the deceased truck driver and cleaner, as well as the truck owner.
The back-to-back incidents on this stretch of highway have raised serious concerns about road safety measures and driving discipline on the crucial Pune-Bengaluru Highway, particularly in the areas surrounding Bhumkar Chowk and Navale bridge.
