Seven people died on the spot after two cars on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, also known as the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, in Maharashtra’s Jalna district on June 28 at 11:30 p.m. The incident was reported by Police Sub-Inspector Ramdas Nikam, who was patrolling near Kadwanchi village on the highway.
Nikam said a local resident informed him about the crash, prompting him to rush to the scene and alert nearby control rooms. The accident occurred when a Swift Dzire, entering the highway from the wrong side after refueling, collided with an Ertiga.
The injured victims were taken to Jalna District Hospital and Aurangabad Government Hospital. The Swift Dzire had three occupants from Deulgaon Raja village in Umbarkhed taluka, Buldana district. Sandeep Budhwan (30) and Pradip Misal died on the spot, while a third passenger, admitted to Jalna District Hospital, succumbed to injuries on Saturday.
The Ertiga, carrying seven individuals from Malad East, Mumbai, saw four fatalities at the scene: Shakeel Mansoori, Fayaz Mansoori, Altamez Mansoori, and Faizal Shakeel Mansoori. The injured, including Shakeel Mansoori, Altaf Mansoori, and driver Rajesh Kumar, were admitted to Aurangabad Government Hospital, as confirmed by Assistant Sub-Inspector Dinesh Barde from Jalna Control Room.
The police are investigating the circumstances of the accident. “We have informed the families, who will collect the bodies today,” Barde said. He noted that the Swift Dzire was traveling at such a high speed that it flung into the air upon impact, landing on the highway barricade. The passengers, suspected to be without seat belts, were ejected from the vehicle, landing on the road. The car was severely damaged, twisted, and broken in parts, requiring cranes to clear the wreckage from the road.
