Pune: Palm Oil Tanker Overturns and Catches Fire on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Driver Rescued
Pune, 29th August 2026: A potentially major accident was averted on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday afternoon after a tanker carrying palm oil overturned and caught fire near kilometre 35 under the jurisdiction of Khopoli Police.
The tanker, bearing registration number MH-04/KF-7614, was transporting palm oil from Bengaluru to Taloja when the accident occurred at around 12.20 pm on the Mumbai-bound carriageway.
According to police officials, the driver, Irshad Ahmed Rehman (27), a native of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly lost control of the tanker near Km 35, causing it to overturn. The vehicle caught fire shortly after the accident, trapping the driver inside the damaged cabin.
A coordinated rescue operation was immediately launched by the Khopoli Police, Borghat Highway Traffic Police, IRB patrol teams and members of the Help Foundation. Despite flames spreading around the overturned tanker, rescue personnel managed to reach the cabin and safely rescue Rehman.
He sustained minor injuries and was shifted to MGM Hospital for medical treatment.
Firefighting teams from the Khopoli Municipal Council and AMNS Company also rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
The incident triggered an emergency response on the busy Mumbai-Pune Expressway, with multiple agencies working together to prevent the fire from escalating and ensure the safety of motorists.
Further investigation into the exact cause of the accident is underway.
