Eight people have died and multiple others have been injured after a truck lost control and plowed into several vehicles on a busy highway in India, according to local media reports.
The incident occurred on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 13, at around 5:45 p.m. local time, when a Mumbai-bound trailer truck crashed into at least 13 vehicles on the Bhumkar Bridge–Navale Bridge stretch of the Pune–Bengaluru highway, reported The Times of India.
A car was trapped between the truck and another heavy vehicle before bursting into flames. The five passengers inside — two men, two women, and a 3-year-old girl — were among the deceased. The driver and another person inside the trailer truck are also believed to have died, the outlet reported.
Video shared on the Pune Municipal Corporation government’s Instagram page showed the burnt wreckage and emergency responders working at the crash site. The post noted that authorities had “immediately reached the scene and started aid after the accident at Navale Bridge.”
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Local police deputy commissioner Sambhaji Kadam said the crash occurred after the truck’s brakes failed while descending a steep slope, according to the Hindustan Times.
“The death toll has climbed to eight. Some of the deceased have been identified. Also, at least 20 persons were injured and undergoing treatment,” he stated, adding, “During the bizarre incident, a small car trapped between two trucks was completely crushed.”
Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the trailer had lost control before plowing into the vehicles on the highway. “The impact was so severe that it sandwiched a car between two heavy vehicles, causing a massive fire that led to multiple deaths. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Sassoon General Hospital,” he told The Times of India.
Fire department chief Devendra Potphode said they received a call at around 6 p.m. about a massive blaze resulting from the crash, according to the Hindustan Times.
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“Our first vehicle reached the spot within five minutes. Tragically, two women and a child were found on the rear seat of the car, while two men occupied the front seats. The truck driver and cleaner were also charred to death,” Potphode explained. He noted that the car was CNG-fueled, causing intense heat and complicating rescue efforts: “The bodies were completely burnt and crushed, making the extraction a challenging task.”
The Commissioner of Police for Pune City posted a message on X expressing condolences: “Sincere condolences on the tragic incident at Navale Bridge. My thoughts are with families who have lost their loved ones.” He added that officials remained on site to assist rescue and support operations.
In a Facebook post, Pune Police also wrote, “A heartfelt tribute to all the citizens who died in an accident at Navale Bridge today,” and wished strength for the grieving families.
