Traffic affected on Mumbai-Pune Expressway as truck overturns; one killed, two injured

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A person was killed and two others received injuries when a speeding glass-laden truck overturned after hitting another truck on Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra's Raigad district in the wee hours of Thursday, police officials told news agency PTI.

Vehicular movement on a Mumbai-bound lane was affected for a few hours it was closed between 5.30 am to 8.30 am to remove the truck and the glass material scattered on the road, an official told PTI.

The accident took place when the truck carrying the glass material rammed into another truck from its rear side and then overturned on the expressway in Khopoli area, he said.

Three persons received serious injuries and were taken to hospital. One of them, identified as Sadanand Patil (43), driver of the glass-laden truck, succumbed to injuries during treatment, the official told PTI.

The Mumbai-bound lane was opened for traffic after 8.30 am and the vehicular movement was slow, he said.

Meanwhile, a landslide occurred on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Kamshet tunnel on July 27 night, affecting the movement of vehicles, an official told news agency PTI.

Vehicular traffic towards Mumbai was affected due to the landslide which took place at around 8 pm, he said.

Highway police personnel were on the spot and efforts were on to remove the debris on the busy 6-lane road, the official told PTI.

One of the three lanes towards Mumbai was closed to remove the debris and mud, he said.

Earlier, Mumbai-bound vehicular movement was shut for more than two hours near Adoshi tunnel due to a block (suspension of traffic) implemented to remove stones and boulders which had rolled down the hills.

The highway police blocked traffic on the Mumbai-bound arm of the busy carriageway from 12 noon till 2 pm. Vehicles were allowed on the road from 2.30 pm onwards.

On July 23, another landslide amid incessant rains near the Adoshi tunnel had disrupted traffic between the Talegaon-Urse section of the expressway.

The Borghat highway police and the Raigad police personnel rushed the spot and the debris was removed with the help of dumpers and earth-movers.

Two lanes of the Pune to Mumbai side were opened for traffic at around 2.30 am on Monday, the official told PTI.

The third lane, which is adjacent to the hilly terrain, has still not been opened as there is a fear of more landslides, he said.

The highway police said they have decided to shut the Pune to Mumbai traffic on the expressway from 12 noon to 2 pm on Monday to remove the debris and heavy stones which may fall from the hills.

The 95-km expressway connecting the two major cities of Maharashtra - Mumbai and Pune - passes through the Sahyadri mountain ranges and is dotted with tunnels.

(With inputs from PTI)