Six killed as truck rams car, catches fire on Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway
Six people were killed after a truck crashed into a car on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Wardha district early on Monday, police said
Six people were killed after a truck crashed into a car on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Wardha district early on Monday, police said. Both vehicles caught fire after the crash at around 3 am, disrupting traffic on the busy expressway. The accident took place after a container truck carrying ethanol overturned. Rescue teams were sent to the spot, while traffic on the Mumbai-Nagpur carriageway was diverted to the opposite lane, leading to heavy congestion. Police also asked motorists travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai to avoid the expressway up to Wardha for the next few hours.
Read Full Story A senior police official said that while another lane remained operational after the container overturned, a stationary car on the road was hit from behind by a truck. The impact set both vehicles on fire. Four passengers in the car and two people in the truck, including the driver, died in the accident, the official said. Teams from the Highway Safety Patrol, Wardha Police, the fire brigade and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation rushed to the site for rescue work and to restore traffic movement.
As the overturned container was carrying highly flammable ethanol, officials said it had to be emptied before it could be removed safely. The operation was under way with utmost caution to ensure public safety. Police said motorists travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai should use the Nagpur-Amravati highway and rejoin the Samruddhi Expressway through the Amravati gate interchange. Efforts were under way to clear the accident site safely. Highway police data shows that the Samruddhi Expressway recorded 185 accidents in 2025, up 35 per cent from 137 in 2024.
The 701-km, si lane access-controlled highway connects Nagpur and Mumbai and has been opened in phases since December 2022. Officials had earlier said an Intelligent Traffic Management System is being implemented to improve monitoring and enhance road safety. Ends
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