Two killed as truck hits police vehicle on Mumbai-Goa Highway in Ratnagiri
Synopsis
A container truck carrying iron rods slammed into a police vehicle responding to an emergency on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway near Ratnagiri's Anjanari Bridge, sending the police vehicle 80-100 feet down an embankment. ASI Santosh Gaikwad and the truck driver are dead; a critically injured constable is being airlifted to Sangli. The accident-prone stretch has renewed demands for urgent safety intervention.
Key Takeaways
ASI Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad , aged 51 , and the container truck driver were killed in the collision near Anjanari Bridge on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway on the night of 1 November 2026 .
The police vehicle was responding to a separate road emergency when a speeding container truck carrying iron rods struck it from behind.
The impact threw the police vehicle approximately 80 to 100 feet down a steep embankment; the truck overturned into a gorge.
Constable Anil Ashok Shingade was critically injured and shifted to Sangli for advanced care; a second officer also sustained serious injuries.
The Anjanari Bridge stretch of the highway has a history of accidents linked to sharp bends and steep slopes, renewing calls for stricter speed controls.
A police officer and a truck driver were killed after a speeding container truck carrying iron rods rear-ended a Hathkhamba Highway Traffic Police Unit vehicle on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district late on Saturday night, officials said. The collision, which occurred near the Anjanari Bridge at around 11 pm, also left two other police personnel seriously injured.
How the Accident Unfolded
The police vehicle was responding to a separate emergency — a report of another vehicle having fallen into the river beneath the Anjanari Bridge — when the container truck struck it from behind. The force of the impact was catastrophic: the police vehicle was sent hurtling approximately 80 to 100 feet down a steep embankment toward the river. The container truck itself veered off the highway and overturned into a gorge, officials said.
The Victims
Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad, aged 51, was among those rushed to Pali Rural Hospital for initial treatment before being transferred to Ratnagiri District Government Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The container truck's driver also died while undergoing treatment. Constable Anil Ashok Shingade, described by officials as critically injured, was being shifted to Sangli for advanced medical care.
Emergency Response
Lanja Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kadam, Police Inspector Dipali Jadhav, Assistant Police Inspector Satyaraj Ghule, Sub-Inspector Balwant Patil, and other personnel rushed to the site following the accident and facilitated the transfer of the injured to hospital. The swift mobilisation underscored the severity of the crash and the difficult terrain around the Anjanari Bridge stretch, known for its sharp bends and steep gradients.
Road Safety Concerns Renewed
The accident has once again brought the dangers of this particular stretch of the Mumbai-Goa National Highway into sharp focus. The section near Anjanari Bridge has a documented history of accidents attributable to its sharp curves and elevation changes. Calls have resurfaced for stricter speed-control enforcement and improved safety infrastructure along this corridor. This incident adds to growing pressure on highway authorities to address structural safety deficiencies before more lives are lost.
Point of View
Yet speed-control infrastructure and safety barriers remain inadequate. The cruellest irony here is that the police vehicle was already responding to one highway emergency when it became the second. Until the Centre and Maharashtra treat this corridor as a safety emergency — with enforceable speed limits, reflective barriers, and night-patrol systems — the body count will keep rising.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway in Ratnagiri on 1 November 2026?
A speeding container truck carrying iron rods rear-ended a Hathkhamba Highway Traffic Police Unit vehicle near the Anjanari Bridge in Ratnagiri district at around 11 pm on 1 November 2026. The impact sent the police vehicle 80 to 100 feet down a steep embankment, killing two people and seriously injuring two others.
Who were the victims of the Ratnagiri highway accident?
Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad, aged 51, and the driver of the container truck both died — Gaikwad succumbed to his injuries at Ratnagiri District Government Hospital. Constable Anil Ashok Shingade was critically injured and transferred to Sangli for advanced medical care.
Why was the police vehicle on the highway at the time of the accident?
The Hathkhamba Traffic Police Unit vehicle was responding to a report of another vehicle having fallen into the river beneath the Anjanari Bridge when the container truck struck it from behind.
Is the Anjanari Bridge stretch of the Mumbai-Goa Highway considered dangerous?
Yes, the section near Anjanari Bridge is widely regarded as accident-prone due to its sharp bends and steep slopes. Saturday's collision has renewed demands for stricter speed-control measures and improved safety infrastructure on this stretch.
What action has been taken after the accident?
Police officers including Lanja Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kadam, Police Inspector Dipali Jadhav, and others rushed to the scene and arranged hospital transfers for the injured. Critically injured Constable Anil Ashok Shingade was being shifted to Sangli for specialised care, while calls for highway safety reform have intensified.
