Pune, 24 February 2026: A fatal accident occurred around 4 am on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway near the Katraj Ghat stretch on Tuesday. The collision took place between Katraj Tunnel and Navale Bridge, near the Jambhulwadi valley bridge.
According to police, a truck loaded with iron pipes and rods was heading from Katraj towards Navale Bridge when it rammed into a bus from behind. The impact was severe, completely crushing the front cabin of the truck.
Four to five passengers travelling in the bus sustained minor injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The truck driver, who suffered serious injuries, died during treatment, police said.
The rescue operation was challenging as the truck cleaner was trapped inside the mangled cabin along with the iron rods. Fire brigade personnel used cutters and other equipment to pull him out.
Police officials, fire brigade teams and personnel from the National Highways Authority reached the spot soon after the accident. The crash led to heavy traffic congestion on the highway, with long queues of vehicles seen even in the early morning hours.
