04 August,2023 06:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Samruddhi Expressway. File Pic
A chemical-laden truck caught fire reportedly after a tyre burst on Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Buldhana district, police said on Friday, according to the PTI.
The driver and the cleaner escaped unhurt as they got out of the vehicle after the tyre burst, an official said.
The accident took place at Mehkar around 11 pm, when the truck was heading towards Nagpur from Mahad MIDC in Raigad district, he said.
After the tyre burst, the truck caught fire. The flames spread to the chemical barrels in the vehicle, and it was completely gutted within minutes, the official said.
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The incident was reported to Mehkar police station and a probe is underway.
Breath analysers to be used for random checking on Samruddhi Expressway
Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse on Thursday said in the state assembly that breath analysers will be used for random checking of drivers of heavy and public transport vehicles on the Samruddhi Expressway, reported the PTI.
The 'Samruddhi Mahamarg', named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg passes through 10 districts: Nagpur, Washim, Wardha, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Aurangabad, Amravati, Jalna, Nashik and Thane.
The construction of a 600-km long stretch is completed and opened for traffic, while the work of remaining 101 km-long stretch between Nashik and Thane is in progress.
During a debate in the legislative assembly on the rising number of accidents on the expressway, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said 110 people have died in accidents since the Samruddhi Expressway was opened for the public (in December last year), according to the PTI.
Replying to the debate, Bhuse, the minister of public works (public undertakings), said breath analysers will be used for random checking of drivers of heavy and public transport vehicles on the expressway.
The speed limit for light vehicles is 120 km per hour and for heavy vehicles is 80 km per hour, he said.
There will be strict surveillance to check lane-cutting, he said, adding that hoardings and boards will be put up to create awareness about the traffic rules.
(with PTI inputs)
