Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link Sees Two Accidents Hours Apart; 6-7 Bus Passengers Injured
Lonavala, 6th October 2026: Two separate accidents occurred within a few hours on the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Missing Link, also known as the Connecting Link, on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway early Tuesday morning. A banana-laden pickup tempo overturned in the first accident, while a bus and truck collided in the second, leaving around six to seven passengers injured, according to preliminary information.
The first accident took place at around 3 am on the Mumbai-bound Connecting Link. The driver of a pickup tempo transporting bananas reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding, causing it to overturn on the road.
The driver, Sameer Sheikh, sustained injuries and was taken to the Khopoli Municipal Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
A large quantity of bananas spilled onto the carriageway after the tempo overturned, creating an obstruction on the Missing Link. Emergency personnel began removing the damaged vehicle and clearing the bananas from the road.
Bus-Truck Collision Leaves Passengers Injured
Around 5 am, another accident occurred on the same Missing Link when a bus collided with a truck on the Mumbai-bound carriageway within the Lonavala limits.
Preliminary information indicates that six to seven passengers travelling in the bus were injured.
Two of the injured were taken to Khopoli Municipal Hospital for primary treatment, while another injured passenger was admitted to Siddhivinayak Hospital at Khopoli-Sheel Phata. The remaining injured passengers were reportedly taken to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Panvel.
Traffic Restricted, Probe Underway
The exact cause of the bus-truck collision has not yet been officially confirmed. Following the accident, traffic on the affected lane was stopped while rescue and clearance operations were carried out.
Personnel from the Bor Ghat Dasturi Highway Police are investigating the incident.
