Navale Bridge Tragedy; Marathi Actor Dhananjay Koli Among Victims as Crash Leaves Families Devastated

Pune, 15th November 2025: A routine Thursday evening turned into an unimaginable nightmare near the accident-prone Navale Bridge, where a fiery crash claimed five lives, including 30-year-old Marathi actor Dhananjay Koli. The tragedy has left families in profound grief, with a three-month-old infant losing his father and another family losing their three-year-old daughter.

Actor Dhananjay Koli’s Dreams End Abruptly
Koli, who was driving the car, had only recently stepped into fatherhood. His wife and three-month-old son were at their family home in Latur, unaware that their lives were about to change forever.

Originally from Jaysingpur in Kolhapur district, Dhananjay had shifted from a corporate job to the transport business just six months ago, while continuing his work on stage. Based in Chikhali, Pimpri-Chinchwad, he had acted in multiple Marathi plays and proudly identified himself as an actor on Instagram.

“He Died for No Fault of His” — Family in Shock
Relatives said the accident has shattered the Koli family. Grieving family member Mahesh Goni said, “Dhananjay became a victim for no fault of his. His three-month-old son has been deprived of a father’s love.”

The family also recalled that just days earlier, Dhananjay’s wife had celebrated her baby shower (dohale jevan). The photos from that ceremony — filled with smiles, now stand in heartbreaking contrast to the tragedy.

Navale Bridge’s Safety Concerns Surface Again
The incident has renewed concerns over the Navale Bridge stretch, which has been notorious for multiple fatal crashes in recent years. Locals and road safety experts have repeatedly demanded strict enforcement and engineering interventions to prevent such recurring tragedies.