Pune, 13 June 2025: A horrific accident unfolded near Chandni Chowk on the Pune-Mumbai highway on Thursday night around 8 pm, when a container truck loaded with heavy iron rods met with a devastating mishap, resulting in the driver’s death and leaving the cleaner critically injured.

The trailer, which was transporting iron rods from Mumbai to Bangalore and belonged to a Rajasthan-based operator, had reached a roadwork zone near Chandni Chowk when an unexpected car cut in front of it. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver slammed the brakes abruptly.

The sudden stop caused the unsecured iron rods in the trailer to lunge forward with immense force, piercing straight through the truck’s cabin. The impact proved instantly fatal for the driver, who suffered severe injuries and died on the spot. The cleaner, who was also inside the cabin, was trapped amidst the wreckage and sustained critical injuries. He was later rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Disturbing visuals of the accident’s aftermath quickly circulated on social media, showing iron rods impaling the mangled cabin while bystanders and local residents tried to help. Some attempted to pull the rods out manually to free the trapped men, but the weight and size of the rods made the rescue effort extremely difficult.

The incident caused heavy traffic congestion on the busy highway stretch near Chandni Chowk for several hours. Police and emergency services arrived at the scene promptly, working to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow.

Local youth Shubham Bhunde from Bavdhan said that traffic was severely affected due to the accident and the subsequent rescue and recovery operations.