8 dead, 20 hurt as truck crash sparks pile-up at Pune’s Navale Bridge

Dubai: At least eight people were killed and 20 injured in a major road accident near Pune’s Navale Bridge on Thursday evening after a speeding truck lost control and rammed into several vehicles.

According to Pune City Police, the incident occurred around 5:30pm within the jurisdiction of Sinhagad Police Station, near the “Selfie Point” stretch of the highway. The collision involved around eight vehicles, two of which caught fire due to the impact.

Videos circulating online show one of the trucks engulfed in flames, while photographs reveal the mangled remains of the car that was sandwiched between the vehicles. Fire engines rushed to the spot as soon as the alert was raised, and rescue and firefighting operations were launched immediately.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kadam said the truck, travelling from Satara to Mumbai via the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway, likely suffered a brake failure while descending the Navale Bridge slope.

“The truck then went on to hit multiple vehicles on its way, including a car. The impact was such that the car caught fire after being sandwiched between the truck and a container ahead on the same route,” Kadam said.

Police teams, along with the Pune Fire Brigade, rushed to the site to douse the flames and rescue the victims. Firefighters later retrieved the bodies from the damaged car and container.

Authorities are working to identify the deceased. The wrecked vehicles are being cleared from the highway, and traffic was temporarily diverted during the operation. A probe has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

The accident occurred on the Katraj–Dehu Road Bypass section of the Pune–Bengaluru Highway, a stretch that has witnessed several major accidents in recent years.

The collision brought traffic on the national highway to a complete standstill, triggering a massive jam that extended for several kilometres.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of those killed in the accident.