Maharashtra: 18 killed after speeding truck rams barrier on highway near Satara

In a tragic incident, at least 18 people, including seven women and two children were killed and 15 others injured after a speeding truck overturned in western Maharashtra’s Satara district on Tuesday.

The truck was carrying construction workers from Bijapur district in Karnataka and was going towards Pune when it met with the accident around 4.30 am.

The accident took place on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway passing through the district, around 250 km from Mumbai, Satara’s Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said.

“After crossing the Khambatki ghat section, there is a difficult turning of ‘S’ shape. It is an accident-prone spot. The truck driver probably dozed off and lost control over the wheels, as a result of which the vehicle hit a barricade and overturned,” he said.

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The labourers were heading towards a construction site and carrying sharp-edged equipment. The truck overturned after the accident and equipment fell on them.

“They were carrying some sharp and heavy equipment in the truck. When the vehicle overturned, the equipment fell on the labourers. Many of them died due to head injuries caused by the equipment,” the SP said.

The injured were rushed to Satara Civil Hospital where three of them were said to be in critical condition. The police were trying to identify the deceased and their bodies were sent to the hospital for post-mortem.

(With inputs from agencies)