Pune, 26 January 2026: City has witnessed a disturbing rise in road accident fatalities, with 290 citizens losing their lives over the past year, according to Police data. Two-wheeler riders and pedestrians form nearly 90 per cent of the victims, highlighting how unsafe city roads have become for the most vulnerable users.
The report also reveals that 633 serious accidents left 703 people critically injured. Rapid growth in vehicle numbers, inadequate road infrastructure, and reckless driving have collectively worsened the situation. Authorities believe that without focused interventions for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, the death toll will continue to rise.
Looking at long-term trends, between 2019 and 2025, Pune recorded around 1,900 deaths and 4,385 serious injuries due to road accidents. Since 2021 alone, fatal accidents have increased by about 20 per cent, while accident-related deaths have risen by 19 per cent. Serious accidents and injuries have grown even faster, underlining a clear decline in road safety standards.
Age-wise analysis for 2025 shows that men between 20 and 49 years account for nearly 52 per cent of fatalities, making this economically active age group the most affected. Among women, senior citizens above 60 years form about 34 per cent of female deaths, pointing to an urgent need for safer footpaths, better crossings, and pedestrian-friendly road design.
Another worrying trend is the sharp rise in hit-and-run cases, which now account for 54 per cent of fatal accidents. In many such incidents, injured victims are left without timely medical help, significantly increasing the risk of death.
Highways passing through the city remain especially dangerous. About 55 per cent of fatal accidents occurred on highways, with the Pune–Solapur and Pune–Ahilyanagar highways emerging as major black spots. Excessive speed, heavy vehicle movement, and weak safety infrastructure are cited as key reasons. The Pune–Mumbai bypass has also reported a high number of deaths.
Time-based data shows that around 37 per cent of fatal accidents take place between 8 pm and 3 am, while weekends, Friday to Sunday, see a higher frequency of crashes. Police officials stress that stricter enforcement during night hours and weekends is critical to prevent loss of life.
In response, the police has called for safer footpaths and zebra crossings, removal of encroachments, stricter speed control, mandatory helmet use, better night policing, and promotion of public transport. Officials have also recommended publishing regular road safety reports to track accident patterns and guide corrective action.