Nine Killed as Brake Failure Triggers Massive Pile-Up Near Navale Bridge in Pune

Digital Desk

Nine people were killed and more than 20 injured on Thursday evening after a truck with failed brakes triggered a chain collision involving nearly two dozen vehicles near the Navale Bridge on the outskirts of Pune. The crash occurred around Bhorgaon on the Pune–Nashik Highway, a stretch known for heavy traffic and steep inclines that often demand cautious driving from heavy transporters.

Police said the incident began when the truck, unable to slow down on the downward slope, rammed into a car ahead. The impact forced the car straight into a container truck, sandwiching it between the two heavy vehicles. Within moments, the car caught fire, followed by the truck, leaving the five occupants of the car burnt alive. The truck driver and three others also died at the scene.

Fire brigade teams and highway emergency responders reached the spot soon after receiving distress calls. They battled intense flames and pulled out injured passengers from nearby vehicles, several of which were damaged or partially charred. A passenger vehicle travelling behind the truck also caught fire, injuring 17 to 18 people on board and contributing to a long traffic jam that brought movement to a halt for nearly an hour.

Eyewitnesses recalled seeing flames shoot up from the crushed vehicles as people scrambled for safety. “The truck came down too fast. Within seconds everything was on fire,” said a local resident.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured medical support for the injured. MP Supriya Sule expressed grief over the tragedy and urged authorities to address recurring safety issues along the highway, which has witnessed several serious accidents in recent years.