Pune, 1st July 2026: A major accident was narrowly avoided on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's recently opened Missing Link corridor after rocks fell from the roof of Tunnel No. 2 and crashed onto a moving car on Monday evening, shattering its windshield.
The incident took place yesterday around 5.17 pm when a Pune-bound car (MH 46 CM 1989) was passing through the tunnel. A large rock suddenly fell from the tunnel roof and struck the front windshield.
Although the impact completely damaged the glass, the driver remained calm and managed to control the vehicle, preventing a serious accident. All the occupants escaped safely without any injuries.
After receiving information, Police Sub-Inspector Sameer Katpale from the Khandala Highway Police, along with Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel Suresh Dhere, reached the spot and inspected the tunnel and the damaged vehicle. Authorities have begun looking into the cause of the rockfall.
The incident has triggered fresh concerns over the safety of the Missing Link project, especially as the monsoon intensifies. Motorists have questioned whether regular inspections of tunnel roofs, surrounding rock faces and protective safety systems are being carried out to prevent such incidents.
The Missing Link corridor, inaugurated on May 1, was built to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune by nearly 25 to 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The project features one of the world's widest road tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge across Tiger Valley.
However, the latest incident has renewed calls for strict safety checks to ensure commuters can travel safely during the rainy season.