Pune, 6th October 2026: Two separate accidents occurred within a few hours on the Mumbai-bound Connecting Link, also known as the Missing Link, of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway early Tuesday. The incidents caused injuries and temporarily affected traffic on the route.
The first accident took place around 3 am when a pickup tempo carrying bananas overturned on the Mumbai-bound carriageway. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding.
The driver, identified as Sameer Sheikh, was injured and taken to Khopoli Municipal Hospital for treatment. A large quantity of bananas spilled onto the road after the tempo overturned, prompting authorities to remove the produce and clear the damaged vehicle.
Around 5 am, another accident took place on the same Missing Link in the Lonavala limits. A bus travelling towards Mumbai collided with a truck, reportedly injuring 6–7 passengers.
Two of the injured were taken to Khopoli Municipal Hospital, while another was admitted to Siddhivinayak Hospital at Khopoli-Shil Phata. The remaining injured passengers were taken to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Panvel.
Traffic on the affected lane was temporarily stopped following the bus-truck collision as rescue and clearance operations continued. The exact cause of the second accident has not yet been established.
The Borghat Dasturi Highway Police are investigating both incidents. The two accidents occurring within a few hours on the same stretch have once again raised concerns about road safety on the Connecting Link.