5 killed, one hurt in accident on expressway

Five people were killed and one injured in an accident when a vehicle fell in to a gorge on the Mumbai-Pune expressway near Panvel on Sunday morning.

Five people were killed and one injured in an accident when a vehicle fell in to a gorge on the Mumbai-Pune expressway near Panvel on Sunday morning.

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The accident occurred between 6 am and 7.30 am on the Chikhli river bridge, around eight km from Panvel. The police said the driver of the vehicle was speeding when he lost control and the car fell in to a gorge. The badly mangled vehicle’s speedometer was stuck at around 105 km mark.

State police inspector SD Mulani of New Panvel police station said, “While five people including the driver were killed on the spot, one person has been admitted to Ashtvinayak hospital in Panvel with fractures. He is out of danger.”

Those killed are cousins Ramesh Pawar, 28, Sachin Pawar, 22, and Arun Pawar, 22, apart from Amit Deokar, 25, and the driver Lakshman Mane, 35, who were from their neighbouring villages. The injured has been identified as Pandurang Pawar, 50.

Mulani said, “ Primary investigations and the statement of the injured revealed that the driver was speeding and consequently lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle jumped to the right side of the road, broke through the bridge and fell in to the riverside.”

Duryodhan T, a relative of the victims said, “The victims were travelling to their native Gharninki village in Atpati Taluka of Sangli district. They were to attend a wedding of their sister on November 23.”