A series of vehicle collisions occurred on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Friday morning, resulting in injuries to seven individuals. The pile-up, which involved 18 vehicles, took place at around 11 a.m. near the Dusarbhi toll point, specifically at the 321-kilometer mark from Nagpur on the Mumbai-bound lane.
According to police, the chain reaction started when a steel-laden truck travelling on the expressway collided with a car from behind. The impact of the truck caused significant damage to the initial car and triggered a sequence of crashes among other vehicles that were stationary in the queue. Law enforcement officials confirmed that out of the seven reported injuries, four victims sustained grievous wounds, while three others suffered minor injuries.
NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope, who was travelling from Nagpur to Jalna at the time, was present near the accident site. In a social media post, Tope explained that his own vehicle was standing in an adjacent lane when the incident unfolded. He stated that traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway had been halted due to an overturned cement mixer trolley blocking the path.
Tope described the scene, noting that a truck suddenly approached at high speed, with the driver appearing to lose control before striking the queue of stationary vehicles. He reported that a car positioned directly beside his own was hit from the rear. Following the collision, Tope participated in rescue operations and ensured that the injured were transported to a medical facility. He subsequently urged the government to implement urgent safety measures to address the rising number of accidents on the expressway.
Key facts
- The incident involved 18 vehicles in a chain collision on the Samruddhi Expressway.
- Authorities confirmed seven injuries, including four cases described as grievous.
- The accident occurred at 11 a.m. on Friday near the Dusarbhi toll point.
- An overturned cement mixer trolley had initially forced vehicles to stop on the Mumbai-bound lane.
- Former minister Rajesh Tope reported that he assisted in rescuing the injured passengers.
Why it matters
The incident has sparked renewed concerns regarding road safety on the Samruddhi Expressway, with local political figures calling for immediate governmental intervention to prevent further accidents. The disruption caused by the pile-up highlights the challenges of managing traffic flow during obstructions on high-speed corridors.
Source: Hindustan Times
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