19 vehicles collide on Samruddhi Expressway after container rams stationary traffic; 30 injured

Nagpur: A speeding container truck late at night rammed into a queue of stationary vehicles near Tadegaon on the Mumbai-bound stretch of Maharashtra's Samruddhi Expressway. Nineteen vehicles, 18 cars and a police vehicle, collided one after another, and 30 passengers were injured.

Several cars were badly smashed and some rode up over one another. One of the injured is reported to be in serious condition.

According to preliminary information, a truck that had been carrying cement and was empty had overturned near Channel No. 322 on the Mumbai lane of the expressway. Work to clear the overturned truck was under way at about 1.30 am, which had led to a long queue of vehicles on the Mumbai-bound lane.

At that time a heavy container truck came from behind at high speed and allegedly hit the stationary vehicles. The impact was so heavy that 18 cars and a police vehicle were caught up in it one after another. Some cars were pushed on top of each other and many vehicles were severely damaged.

Women and children are among the injured. In all, 30 passengers were hurt, and one of them is said to be critical.

On receiving news of the accident, Samruddhi Expressway ambulances, Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel, police teams from Sindkhed Raja and Kinagaon Raja, and a medical team from the rural hospital reached the spot. Rescue and relief work began immediately.

Some of the injured were given first aid in ambulances at the spot, while about 10 to 12 people were taken to Jalna for further treatment. Members of the Dhade family from Wardha were treated at the rural hospital.

Traffic police removed the damaged vehicles and took steps to restore movement on the expressway. The accident has once again raised serious concern over night travel, speeding and road safety arrangements on the Samruddhi Expressway.