Pune, 14 November 2025: Pune’s Navale Bridge area has once again come under discussion after in a major accident eight lives were lost on Thursday evening. This part of the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway, passing through Wadgaon Budruk and Narhe, is notorious as an accident-prone zone for many years.
Over the span of last eight years, the Navale Bridge stretch has recorded more than 210 accidents and claimed at least 82 lives. Locals say that both commuters and nearby residents have lost their lives, yet authorities are happy only with temporary steps instead of implementing strong, permanent measures.
The main reason behind the recurring accidents is the steep slope in the area. Many crashes are reported as brake failures, loss of control of heavy vehicles, or driver error, but the steep gradient continues to be a major underlying cause. Citizens have repeatedly demanded that the slope to be reduced or divert heavy vehicles through an outer ring road as soon as possible.
On Thursday evening around 6 pm, a truck lost control and caused a massive collision. Eight people died and 15 others were injured. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Three vehicles caught fire during the crash.
The Pune Municipal Corporation’s disaster management team reached the spot quickly. Three fire engines, two rescue vans, a browser, and PMRDA vehicles were deployed.
Fire personnel brought the blaze under control and helped shift the injured to Laiguude Hospital, Kamla Nehru Hospital, and private medical facilities. Around 35 to 40 firefighters and nearly 100 civic staff were involved in the operation.
Pune Police have registered a case at Sinhagad Road Police Station against the truck driver, vehicle owner, and cleaner. Municipal Commissioner Nawal Kishore Ram sent senior officials to the spot, while Additional Commissioners and health department officers supervised rescue work and visited hospitals.
Even after repeated tragedies, long-term solutions for this stretch remain pending, leaving residents worried about future accidents.