Tragedy struck on Mumbai’s outskirts as a dumper truck collided violently with a car on Kalyan-Murbad Road, pushing the death toll to 11. The accident at Rayata Bridge around 11 AM Monday left a trail of devastation, with two additional victims passing away in hospital.
The overloaded passenger car from Kalyan bore the brunt of the crash against the mixer truck barreling towards Murbad. Out of 12 occupants, eight perished on impact. Rescue efforts were hampered by wreckage and ensuing gridlock on the vital highway stretch.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to social media to convey his sorrow: ‘Deeply saddened by the 11 lives lost in the National Highway 61 accident near Kalyan. My condolences to the bereaved families; we are coordinating with administration for support.’
Titwala police have registered a case, initiating probes into the crash dynamics. Deputy SP Anil Lad noted that victim identification is ongoing, with injured under treatment. Initial findings point to excessive speed as the likely trigger, prompting scrutiny of vehicle conditions and road safety measures.
The pile-up caused hours-long snarls, affecting commuters across Thane district. Community members provided immediate assistance, highlighting gaps in emergency response times. As post-mortems proceed, calls grow for enhanced safety infrastructure on this accident-prone corridor to avert future calamities.
