Brake Failure Blamed for Fatal Tanker Overturn Near Chiplun

The narrow, curving descent of Parshuram Ghat on the Mumbai-Goa highway became the site of a deadly crash on Thursday when a chemical tanker hurtled out of control. The driver, who was transporting chemicals from Lote toward Goa, could not stop the vehicle after its brakes malfunctioned. The tanker flipped over, trapping the driver underneath and causing his immediate death. Local residents described hearing a loud crash followed by chaos as traffic came to a standstill. Police and fire services arrived promptly, cordoning off the stretch to check for leaks and to recover the body. Investigators are focusing on whether poor maintenance or overloading contributed to the brake failure. The incident has renewed calls for stricter safety checks on chemical transporters and for improved signage warning drivers of the steep gradient. Traffic was diverted for nearly two hours before the highway was reopened.