Six killed in Dhule highway crash; 26 hurt in chain-reaction pile-up
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Six people were killed and 26 others injured in a chain-reaction multi-vehicle crash on the Mumbai-Agra Highway at Laling Ghat in Dhule, Maharashtra, early on Monday, 25 May, officials said. Among the dead was a toll booth employee who lost his life while actively helping to rescue survivors from the first collision.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to officials, the sequence began when a dumper truck collided with a standard truck at Laling Ghat. As toll employees and local residents moved in to assist the injured, a speeding passenger bus travelling from Madhya Pradesh lost control and ploughed into the wreckage. The second impact was catastrophic — it killed the toll worker who had stepped onto the highway to help, officials confirmed.
'In this tragic incident, a total of six people, including the toll employee, lost their lives, while 26 others sustained injuries,' an official said.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Police and rescue teams reached the site shortly after receiving the alert. All 26 injured individuals were evacuated and admitted to the District Hospital, Dhule for treatment. Traffic on the highway remained disrupted for a period before being restored, officials added.
Second Maharashtra Accident Claims Eight Lives in Raigad
In a separate tragedy earlier the same day, eight people were killed after an SUV plunged into a deep gorge in Raigad district, Maharashtra. Rescue teams had recovered two bodies as of the latest update, both sent for post-mortem examination. The search for the remaining victims was continuing, though officials said the depth of the gorge was posing significant obstacles to recovery efforts.
Investigation Under Way
Police are currently investigating the Dhule highway crash to determine the sequence of events and establish accountability. Further details from both incidents are awaited. Maharashtra has recorded a sharp rise in highway fatalities this year, with the Mumbai-Agra corridor among the most accident-prone stretches in the state.