A major pile-up involving 22 vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday, July 26, 2025, resulted in the death of a 58-year-old woman and injuries to at least 18 other people. The incident occurred near the Adoshi tunnel, in the section between Khalapur and Khandala, causing significant traffic disruptions.
The accident was triggered when a trailer truck, traveling towards Mumbai, experienced brake failure. Unable to stop, the truck rammed into a line of vehicles. The force of the collision caused a chain reaction, involving approximately 22 vehicles, including cars and luxury vehicles.
Anita Ekande, a resident of Dharashiv district, was identified as the woman who died in the accident. She was traveling in an SUV with six others when the vehicle was hit by the container. She suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Emergency services and police teams responded swiftly to the scene to provide assistance and manage the situation. Injured individuals were initially transported to Khopoli Nagarpalika Hospital and subsequently referred to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai for further treatment. Among the injured, two are reported to be in critical condition. Dr. Kuldeep Salgotra, Director of MGM Hospital, stated that one female patient with a head injury was placed on a ventilator. He also noted that a child suffered serious injuries.
The driver of the trailer truck, Rajeshkumar Patel, 29, from Uttar Pradesh, has been taken into custody. A medical examination, including a breathalyzer test, indicated that he was not under the influence of alcohol. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him at the Khopoli police station in Raigad district. Authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the brake failure and other circumstances that contributed to the accident. An RTO inspection will be conducted to determine the reason for the brake failure.
The pile-up caused substantial traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, with vehicle queues extending up to 6 kilometers at one point. Commuters experienced delays of 45 minutes or more. The expressway, one of India's busiest, typically handles 150,000 to 200,000 vehicles daily.
