Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway accident: Container truck rams wedding party vehicle, 13 dead - What we know so far

Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway accident: An accident occurred near Dhanivari village in the Kasa area when a truck with people going to a wedding ceremony was hit by a speeding container truck. Reportedly, traffic movement on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway was disrupted.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway accident: In a horrific road accident, at least 13 people were killed and nearly 20 others injured after a container truck collided with a vehicle carrying wedding guests on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Monday. 

The wedding party had left Bapu village in Dahanu and was travelling to Dhanivari for the ceremony, IANS reported, citing the police.

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What happened?

The accident happened near Dhanivari village in the Kasa area when a truck with people going to a wedding ceremony was hit by a speeding container truck that was travelling from Gujarat towards Mumbai.

According to the officials cited by ANI, the incident occurred at approximately 4 pm in the Dhaniwari village.

The impact of the collision was so severe that both vehicles overturned on the highway. Several passengers inside were reportedly trapped in the mangled vehicle.

As per the initial reports, more than 40 people were travelling in the vehicle; however, some local accounts suggested that over 100 passengers might have been on board.

Local residents rushed to the spot to assist before emergency services arrived. Villagers, police personnel and rescue teams carried out rescue operations and pulled injured passengers from underneath and inside the overturned vehicle.

CM Fadnavis expresses grief, announces Rs 5 lakh aid

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed grief over the accident on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. 

Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, the Chief Minister said the state administration was closely monitoring the situation.

"It is tragic that 13 people lost their lives in an accident at Dahanu in Palghar on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway when a tempo collided with a container. Hearing about this incident has left me deeply saddened. I offer my heartfelt condolences to them," Fadnavis said in a post on social media platform X.

The Chief Minister also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each from the state government for the next of kin of those killed in the accident. 

Police action 

Police have initiated a spot inspection as part of the investigation. The preliminary findings indicate that speeding and negligence may have led to the accident.

Investigators are also examining whether the vehicle carrying the wedding guests was overloaded beyond its permitted capacity.

Traffic movement on the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway remained disrupted after the accident.

Meanwhile, as per authorities, a detailed investigation was underway.

(with agencies' inputs)

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