Mumbai-Pune Expressway Accident: One Dead, Several Injured As MSRTC Bus Collides With Truck Near Lonavala

A tragic accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway claimed the life of one passenger and left at least seven others injured early on Saturday, according to a police official. The incident, reported by news agency PTI, occurred near Lonavala in Pune district around 3 am.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus from Pathardi depot in Ahmednagar was travelling to Mumbai when it collided with a truck from behind. Both vehicles were moving in the same direction at the time, the official said.

Photo Credit: PTI

The victim has been identified as Vishwanath Bhagwan Waghmare, who sadly lost his life in the accident. Meanwhile, seven to eight other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The collision caused a temporary disruption in traffic on the busy expressway, but authorities swiftly cleared the route.

In a separate accident on October 17, at least 23 passengers were injured when a private bus travelling from Kolhapur to Borivali in Mumbai hit a heavy vehicle near Lonavala. The accident, which took place around 5 am, left 11 passengers seriously injured, while 12 others suffered minor injuries. Police suspect the bus driver may have fallen asleep, causing the vehicle to collide with the heavy vehicle from behind.

All the injured passengers were admitted to the hospital and are currently receiving treatment.

Earlier in July this year, a devastating crash on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to 42 others. A Pandharpur-bound bus carrying 'warkaris' (pilgrims) collided with a tractor near Panvel in Navi Mumbai around midnight.

Despite tractors being prohibited on the expressway, the bus, attempting to overtake the tractor, struck it from behind. Among the deceased were three bus passengers and two people riding on the tractor. Following the impact, the bus veered off the road, plunging into a 20-foot-deep gorge. Several injured pilgrims were rushed to a private hospital, with seven in serious condition, as reported by PTI.