Tragic Multi-Vehicle Pile-up on Pune-Mumbai Expressway Claims Three Lives Near Khopoli
KHOPOLI, March 18, 2026: A devastating multi-vehicle collision on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway claimed the lives of three people and left four others injured on Wednesday morning. The horrific crash, which occurred on the Mumbai-bound stretch near the Khopoli exit, involved a container truck, a tanker, and several private cars.
According to preliminary reports, the accident took place in the treacherous ghat section when a heavy truck reportedly overturned, crushing a car beneath it. The initial impact triggered a cascading chain reaction, involving four to five other vehicles in a massive pile-up. Visuals from the site showed one car completely mangled under the weight of the heavy vehicle, illustrating the sheer intensity of the collision.
Emergency response teams, including the Khopoli police and highway rescue units, rushed to the spot to extricate victims from the wreckage. While three occupants died on impact, the four injured individuals were evacuated to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
The accident caused a massive gridlock on the expressway, with Mumbai-bound traffic backed up for several kilometers. Highway authorities worked on a war footing to clear the debris and damaged vehicles, gradually restoring the flow of traffic by the afternoon.
While the exact cause of the pile-up is still under investigation, officials have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while navigating the steep inclines and sharp turns of the Bhor Ghat, especially during peak hours.
This tragedy follows a separate minor scare on Tuesday near the Adoshi tunnel, where falling gun-plaster from the tunnel ceiling struck passing vehicles, though no injuries were reported in that instance.
Police have registered a case and are investigating whether mechanical failure or driver negligence led to the fatal overturning of the truck.
