Seven injured in pile-up involving 18 vehicles on Samruddhi Expressway

A collision involving 18 vehicles occurred on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway on Friday morning after a truck hit a car, leaving at least seven people injured, according to police.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the accident took place around 11 am near the Dusarbhi toll point in the Mumbai-bound lane in Buldhana district. The incident occurred near 'Chain 321' (321 km from Nagpur).

The Mumbai-bound path was obstructed due to a cement mixer trolley overturning, which forced several vehicles to stop. NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope stated on social media that he was travelling from Nagpur to Jalna and his car was stationary in the adjacent lane. He added that a truck loaded with steel suddenly approached rapidly from behind, and the driver, losing control, collided with the vehicles lined up in the lane.

Rajesh Tope stated that the number of injured was 35, but a senior police officer clarified that only four people sustained serious injuries and three others sustained minor injuries. The truck had collided with a car from behind, which triggered collisions among other vehicles. Tope assisted in rescuing the injured and transporting them to the hospital. He expressed concern over the increasing accidents on the expressway and urged the government to take immediate preventive measures.

Rajesh Tope has served as a former minister in the Maharashtra government and is a leader of the NCP (SP) party.