A serious multi-vehicle collision took place on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway yesterday morning, involving at least eight vehicles, including a police van transporting prisoners. The accident resulted in injuries to 10 to 12 policemen, several of whom are reported to be in critical condition. All injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Panvel.
According to initial reports, the police van was traveling from Mumbai to Pune, carrying a group of prisoners. Among them were reportedly Bangladeshi nationals, though authorities have yet to confirm their identities officially.
The accident involved five to six police vehicles, a tempo, a police jeep, and a municipal corporation bus. Several of the vehicles sustained significant damage, further complicating the scene and rescue operations.
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, preliminary accounts suggest that over-speeding may have been a contributing factor. The high speed of the vehicles involved is believed to have led to the chain-reaction collision.
Emergency response teams, along with local police, were immediately deployed to the site to manage the situation and restore traffic flow. The accident caused a major traffic jam on the expressway, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill for several hours.
In an effort to determine the exact sequence of events and cause of the crash, the police have begun analyzing CCTV footage from cameras installed along the expressway. A detailed report is expected to be released once the investigation concludes.