‘Don’t want their deaths to go in vain’: Devastated families demand justice

A 500-metre section of a road that has seen five or more fatalities or serious injuries in the last three years is referred to as a "black spot" in accordance with guidelines established by the ministry and the Indian Road Congress.

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The accident claimed the life of 8 and left about 13 others injured after a speeding truck collided with multiple vehicles in Navale Bridge area on Katraj Dehu Road Bypass of Pune-Bangalore Highway on Thursday evening.

By Sanika Deshpande

While the tragedy that occurred on Navale bridge has left the surviving members of the Navalkar and Dabhade families devastated, it has also raised many issues of safety. “Whose fault was it? Was it their fault for choosing that route to come home? Whose to be punished for this? So many families are devastated now because of this one incident. We just need justice. This is not the first time this has occurred. Many such accidents have already occurred there. How many people need to lose their loved ones for something to be done?” Said Vaishnavi Nagale, a close friend and neighbour.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) lists the Navale bridge in Pune’s Narhe neighbourhood as a “black spot” due to its reputation as an accident-prone area. A 500-metre section of a road that has seen five or more fatalities or serious injuries in the last three years is referred to as a “black spot” in accordance with guidelines established by the ministry and the Indian Road Congress.

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Dhananjay Koli, the man driving the car, has a two-month-old child. “What is his wife and child supposed to do now? How do you think she felt taking her husband’s burnt body home while carrying her baby in her arms? Even the little girl who lost her life. She had nothing to do with all of this, yet her parents will now carry the weight of that decision indefinitely,” added Vaishnavi, speaking of the other deceased present in the car.

“We dont want their deaths to go in vain. That poor girl lost her mother on her birthday. There has to be something done about this,” she urged, speaking about Ankita, Swati’s daughter.

Expressing his grief over the disaster, CM Devendra Fadnavis took to X, “The incident of the death of some people in an accident on the Navale Bridge in Pune is very unfortunate and painful. I pay my heartfelt tributes to the people who lost their lives in this incident. We share in the grief of their families. Financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh will be given to the next of kin of those who died in this accident.

The grieving families say the incident should prompt immediate intervention on a stretch long known for serious accidents. They have urged the authorities to prioritise safety measures on the Navale Bridge, warning that continued negligence will only put more commuters at risk. As the probe into Thursday’s crash moves forward, the families stress that accountability and corrective steps are essential, emphasising that the tragedy of eight lives must lead to a definitive solution for the accident-prone route.

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