A horrific accident took place on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in which about 25 vehicles collided with each other. The accident took place near the Adoshi tunnel in the limits of the Khopoli police station. A 58-year-old woman died, and more than 18 people were injured in this accident.

The main cause of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway accident

According to the police, the main reason for this horrific collision was the brake failure of a container trailer. The accident took place on a sloped section while descending from the ghat on the Pune to Mumbai lane of the expressway. Due to brake failure, the trailer driver lost control of the vehicle, which led to the accident.

How did this accident happen?

On Saturday afternoon, when the trailer was going down the ghat, its brakes stopped working. Due to high speed and slope, the uncontrolled trailer rammed into the traffic ahead of it. The collision was so severe that the trailer dragged several vehicles for about 3.5 kilometres. As a result, a series of vehicles collided with each other, including cars, buses and trucks. Luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes were also damaged in the collision.

Loss of life and property

The accident claimed the life of 58-year-old Anita Sahdev Ekande, a resident of Dharashiv district, who was travelling in an SUV with her family. More than 18 people were injured in the accident, who were admitted to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai and other private hospitals. One of the injured is said to be in critical condition.

Rescue operations and investigation

As soon as the incident was reported, police, rescue teams and highway authority teams reached the spot and started rescue operations. The accident led to a long traffic jam on the expressway for hours.

The police have taken the 29-year-old trailer driver into custody. Medical examination has revealed that the driver was not drunk. In the initial investigation, the cause of the accident is believed to be mechanical failure, especially brake failure. This incident has once again raised serious questions about the safety and maintenance of heavy vehicles on the ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Is brake failure the main reason behind the Mumbai-Pune pile-up?

Yes, according to preliminary investigations, brake failure is believed to be the main reason behind the 25-vehicle pile-up on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

According to the police, the accident occurred due to brake failure of a container trailer. The incident took place on a sloped portion while descending from a ghat on the Pune to Mumbai lane of the expressway. Due to the failure of the brakes, the driver of the trailer lost control of the vehicle, after which it entered the oncoming traffic and hit several vehicles one after the other.

Some other important facts have also come to light in this case:

• Driver’s condition: The police have taken the trailer driver into custody, and his medical examination confirmed that he was not drunk. This further strengthens the suspicion that the accident was caused by a technical fault rather than human error.
• Investigation focus: At present, the investigation is completely focused on mechanical failure, especially the failure of the brake system.
• Safety concerns: The incident has once again raised serious questions on the maintenance and safety standards of heavy vehicles plying on the ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

What new safety steps have the highway authorities implemented after this accident?

After the horrific accident on July 26, 2025, highway officials have called for reviewing and tightening safety measures on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. However, since the accident has only been a day old, no new rules have been implemented immediately yet, but officials have hinted at some important steps for the future.

The incident has once again raised serious concerns about the safety of heavy vehicles on the ghat section of the expressway. According to officials, measures in the following areas will be reviewed:

• Vehicle fitness and lane discipline: An official of the Highway Patrol has said that existing enforcement measures, such as speed, fitness of vehicles and lane discipline, will be reviewed. Work will be done in collaboration with transport officials to further tighten these rules for heavy vehicles.
• Monitoring high-risk sections: The need to keep a close watch on the movement of heavy vehicles on high-risk sections, such as the ghats, has been emphasised.
• Investigation and report: The police have said that a detailed mechanical investigation and RTO investigation will be conducted to find out the exact cause of the trailer’s brake failure. Based on the report of this investigation, further concrete steps may be taken in the future.

Speed limit debate

It is important to know that shortly before this accident, in June 2025, the authorities were considering increasing the speed limit for heavy vehicles from 40 km/h to 50 km/h on the Bhor Ghat section. Transporters had complained that maintaining a speed of 40 km/h on slopes was “unscientific” and impractical, often leading to overheating of brakes and failure. This proposed change may also be reviewed afresh after this recent accident.

In short, this accident has forced the authorities to rethink the safety protocols, and it is expected that new and stringent safety measures will be implemented on the expressway, especially for heavy vehicles, after the investigation is completed.

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