Mumbai-Pune Expressway Accident: Tempo Crashes Into Bus, 14 Injured In Raigad District

Fourteen people sustained injuries after a tempo collided with a private bus on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra's Raigad district during the early hours of Thursday, as reported by the Deccan Herald. The accident occurred at approximately 3:00 am, according to the Khopoli police.

The private bus, carrying 11 passengers, was travelling from Sangola to Mumbai when the brakes of a tempo transporting chickens failed. The tempo, unable to stop, rammed into the rear of the bus, causing it to veer off the highway. The bus subsequently overturned and fell into a ditch approximately 20 feet deep.

Among those injured were all 11 passengers aboard the bus, including the driver, and three individuals travelling in the tempo. While the bus passengers suffered minor injuries, they were promptly rescued and taken to a civic-run hospital in Khopoli for treatment. After receiving medical attention, they were discharged.

However, the three occupants of the tempo sustained severe injuries and were rushed to MGM Hospital in Kalamboli near Panvel, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

Police officials from Khopoli have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the brake failure and ascertain if any negligence was involved.

Traffic disruptions were reported briefly following the accident, but normal flow resumed after the vehicles were cleared from the expressway. Authorities have reminded motorists to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition to prevent such mishaps.

About Mumbai-Pune Expressway

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway currently features a 6-lane cement concrete pavement with 2.5-metre wide paved shoulders on both sides, stretching over a length of 94 km. In contrast, National Highway No. 4, which runs from Shil Phata to Dehu Road, is a 4-lane bituminous road covering 111 km.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH-4 intersect near the Khalapur Toll Plaza and diverge at the Khandala exit. Between the Adoshi Tunnel and the Khandala exit, the road remains a 6-lane stretch, but this section experiences the combined traffic of a 10-lane road (6 lanes from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 4 lanes from NH-4). The high volume of traffic, coupled with frequent landslides, often causes severe congestion in this area.

As vehicles slow down, travel times increase, leading drivers to accelerate on the rest of the expressway in an attempt to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a higher number of accidents along the expressway.