19 vehicles collide on Samruddhi Expressway near Tadegaon, 30 passengers injured

Nagpur: A major accident occurred near Tadegaon on the Mumbai corridor of the Samruddhi Expressway in the middle of the night, in which 19 vehicles collided one after another. The impact was so severe that several cars rode up on top of one another and the vehicles piled up. Thirty passengers, including women and children, were injured. One of the injured is said to be in serious condition.

According to the information available, an empty cement truck had overturned near Channel No. 322 on the Mumbai corridor. Work to clear the truck was under way at around 1:30 am, and a long queue of vehicles had built up on the Mumbai lane as a result.

At that time, a heavy container coming from behind at high speed hit the vehicles waiting in the queue. After the impact, the vehicles standing ahead rammed into one another. In all, 19 vehicles, 18 cars and a police vehicle, were damaged. Several cars were badly crushed, while some rode up on top of one another.

Ambulances of the Samruddhi Expressway, personnel of the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF), police from Sindkhed Raja and Kingaon Raja, and a medical team from the rural hospital reached the spot on receiving information. Relief and rescue work began and the injured were given immediate help.

Some of the injured were given first aid in ambulances on the highway itself, while about 10 to 12 were sent 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 got traffic moving again.

The accident has once again raised serious questions about night travel, speeding and road safety arrangements on the Samruddhi Expressway.