Quick read
- A tractor-trailer lost control and ploughed into a line of vehicles on the Pune–Bengaluru highway near Navale Bridge, killing 8 people and injuring 14.
- A small car was crushed between two container trucks and caught fire; five members of one family, including a child, were among the dead.
- Police have registered a culpable homicide FIR against the truck owner and crew; investigations point to brake failure on a downhill stretch as a likely cause.
What happened
A Mumbai-bound trailer truck reportedly lost control on the Bhumkar–Navale bridge stretch on Thursday evening and rammed into multiple vehicles. The impact trapped a small car between two heavy trucks; all three vehicles then caught fire, producing a massive blaze that hampered rescue work. Emergency teams rescued injured passengers and shifted them to nearby hospitals.
Where and when
The pile-up occurred near Navale Bridge on the Pune–Bengaluru highway (Mumbai–Bengaluru route), a known accident-prone stretch, at around early evening on 13 November 2025. Traffic was diverted, and the stretch was temporarily closed for clearance and investigation.
How it happened
Preliminary police statements indicate the truck lost braking control while negotiating a slope, initiating a chain collision with at least a dozen vehicles. The presence of combustible cargo (iron beads in one truck and plastic beads in another) and leaked fuel intensified the fire, making extrication difficult. Forensic and RTO teams were deployed to inspect vehicle condition, logbooks, and the scene.
Victims and response
Authorities say the dead include the truck driver, and cleaner, and five occupants of the car (members of the same family) who were unable to escape the inferno; one more victim succumbed later in the hospital. Fourteen injured people were admitted to local hospitals; several have been discharged after treatment. Maharashtra CM announced ex gratia compensation for the families.
Legal action & investigation
Pune police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the (now deceased) truck crew and the vehicle owner; separate teams will conduct forensic examination, DNA testing of charred remains, and probe the truck’s maintenance records and driver’s log. Officials are investigating whether overspeeding, overloading, or mechanical failure contributed to the crash.
