Three people were killed and one was seriously injured when a container lorry lost control on the Mohdari ghat section of the Nashik–Pune national highway on Wednesday morning. The collision took place at about 10:30am on the bend near Mohdari, on the stretch between Sinnar and Nashik in Maharashtra.
Sinnar highway accident details
According to police, the container (registration MH 46 AR 2725) was travelling from Sinnar towards Nashik when the driver lost control near a traffic island on the hairpin bend. The vehicle crossed the divider into the opposite carriageway and struck a pickup (MH 15 GV 7149) and a Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (MH 15 CB 6796) that were heading towards Sinnar.
The impact caused the pickup to overturn on the right side of the highway. Two occupants of the pickup and the rider of the motorcycle were fatally crushed in the collision. The deceased have been identified as Balu Bajirao Vyapari, 42, of Mahale Farm, Nashik; Avdhut Ramnath Nirmal, 23, of Pimpri Nirmal; and Shaji Fernando, 45, of Jail Road. The container driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Emergency services and highway police reached the scene shortly after the crash. Traffic on the national highway was suspended in both directions for approximately one hour as rescue and recovery teams worked to remove wreckage and clear the carriageway. Vehicles began to move normally only after the disabled vehicles were removed.
Police inspector Bharat Jadhav, supervising the response, said the investigation is ongoing under the guidance of assistant inspector Jitendra Patil. Initial reports indicate the container veered across the median after the driver appears to have lost control while negotiating the bend.
Local highway authorities and the Shinde toll plaza administration inspected the ghat following the accident. Officials noted that the Mohdari ghat is a challenging stretch where repeated accidents have prompted earlier reviews of road signage and safety measures.
Residents and commuters on the Nashik–Pune route expressed concern about safety on the ghats. Authorities said they would examine possible measures to improve safety at the bend, including clearer signage, speed restrictions and physical barriers where feasible.
The police appealed to drivers to take extra care when driving through ghat sections, particularly heavy vehicle operators. Investigators will examine whether driver fatigue, vehicle defects or road conditions contributed to the loss of control. Further forensic and mechanical inquiries are expected to form part of the ongoing probe.
The incident is a reminder of the risks on hilly highway stretches and the impact a single loss of control can have on other road users. Local officials have pledged to speed up remedial measures identified during inspections to reduce the likelihood of further tragedies on the Mohdari ghat.
Key Takeaways:
- Sinnar highway accident on the Nashik–Pune national highway left three dead and one critically injured.
- The uncontrolled container collided with a pickup and a motorcycle near the Mohdari ghat bend, halting traffic for about an hour.
- Police and highway authorities have launched an investigation and inspected the ghat following repeated accidents.
- Local officials urged motorists to exercise caution on the ghat; rescue teams cleared the scene to restore traffic.
