Pune Woman Dies After Boulder Crashes Through Car Sunroof at Tamhini Ghat

PUNE: A 43-year-old woman from Pune died in a freak accident on Thursday morning when a large rock crashed through the sunroof of her car at Tamhini Ghat near Kondheshwar village in Raigad district.

The victim, identified as Snehal Govinddas Gujrathi, a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad, was travelling with her husband, son, and mother-in-law from Pune to Mangaon in a Volkswagen Virtus when the incident occurred. According to the Mangaon Police, the accident took place between 9.30 am and 10 am on the Pune–Mangaon Road.

Rock Crashes Through Sunroof at Tamhini Ghat

Police said that due to a natural landslide, stones and boulders rolled down the hillside, one of which smashed through the car’s sunroof and windshield. The rock struck Snehal on the head, causing severe injuries. She was immediately rushed to the Sub-District Hospital in Mangaon, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The car sustained major damage, with both the sunroof and windshield completely shattered. Rescue teams and local police reached the site soon after being alerted and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

Investigation and Safety Measures

Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal confirmed that a detailed inquiry has been launched to determine whether loose rocks or a minor landslide triggered the fatal incident.

Tamhini Ghat, which connects Pune district to the Konkan region, is a scenic but risky mountain route. The area is known for frequent rockfalls and landslides, particularly during and after the monsoon season. Several fatal accidents have been reported over the years along this stretch.

Following the tragedy, the Raigad district collector has ordered a safety audit of the ghat section and instructed officials to identify vulnerable spots. Motorists have been urged to drive cautiously and avoid travelling through Tamhini Ghat unless absolutely necessary.

Police Warn Against Opening Sunroofs in Hilly Terrain

Officials have also issued a warning against opening car sunroofs while driving through hilly regions. “Many travellers open the sunroof to enjoy the scenic route, but it can be dangerous. Even a closed sunroof may not withstand the impact of falling rocks,” a police officer said.

The tragic death of Snehal Gujrathi has once again highlighted the need for better rockfall protection and stricter safety monitoring at accident-prone sections of Tamhini Ghat.