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Pune RTO report says driver lost control in Navale bridge accident

“For things like brake failures, the condition of the crashed vehicle is such that nothing can be said with evidence,” the official added. The front of the truck and the car were completely crushed and charred  in the accident.

Pune RTO meets NIC, driving licence, unauthorised RTO agents, Regional Transport Authority, National Informatics Centre, Aadhaar card discrepancies, online RTO applications, higher transport authorities, procedural adjustments, indian express newsPune RTO’s preliminary probe finds the Navale Bridge crash was caused by the driver losing control of the vehicle.(File Photo)

A report by the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has found that the preliminary cause of the Navale Bridge accident was due to the driver losing control over the vehicle. The accident on November 13 led to the death of 8 including five in a car and the driver and cleaner of the bus.

“In our analysis of the Navale bridge accident we have found that there was no mechanical fault. The driver just could not control the vehicle. The vehicle was definitely at a speed above the speed limit and it dashed into the cars in front of it,” said a senior official who did not want to be named as he said the report had not yet been submitted on the online dashboard.

The analysis was based on CCTV footage. “We gathered CCTV footage from two locations. One was from the toll plaza where the vehicle was in control. It went in its own lane. The other CCTV footage is from after the dash when the vehicles are burning. Many have already seen that footage. It was observed that the speed of the vehicle even after the crash was more than the limit of 60 kmph. So before the crash it must have definitely been above 60.”

“For things like brake failures, the condition of the crashed vehicle is such that nothing can be said with evidence,” the official added. The front of the truck and the car were completely crushed and charred  in the accident.

Deputy Regional Transport Officer Swapnil Bhosale says that after the accident, the office has constituted safety measures like checking of documents at the Khed Shivapur Toll Plaza, eye checks for drivers to ensure proper vision during day and night. The Pune Traffic Police has announced the reduction of speed limit at the accident spot from 60kmph to 30 kmph.

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More


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