Six killed as truck collides with car on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Wardha

Six people were killed when a truck collided with a car on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Wardha district early on Monday, July 20, 2026, according to local police. The accident occurred around 3 a.m. near Virul village, where the two vehicles caught fire following the collision. The incident caused significant disruption to traffic on the busy expressway. The crash involved a container truck carrying ethanol that had overturned near interchange IC-80. A senior police official stated that while one lane remained open, a stationary car on the road was struck from behind by the truck, leading to both vehicles igniting. Four individuals inside the car and two occupants of the truck, including the driver, lost their lives in the accident. Emergency services, including the Highway Safety Patrol, Wardha Police, fire brigade, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, responded swiftly to the scene. The overturned container, which carried highly flammable ethanol, required special handling due to the risk of explosion. Authorities emphasized that the operation to remove the vehicle was conducted with extreme caution to protect public safety. Firefighters worked alongside teams to extinguish the flames and stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, traffic was redirected to the opposite lane, resulting in heavy congestion along the affected section of the expressway. Authorities advised drivers traveling from Nagpur to Mumbai to avoid using the Samruddhi Expressway up to Wardha for several hours. Motorists were directed to use the Nagpur-Amravati Highway instead and re-enter the expressway via the Amravati gate interchange. Efforts continued to clear the accident site and restore normal traffic flow. Officials noted that the area had already faced challenges, citing that the Samruddhi Expressway recorded 185 accidents in 2025, a 35% rise compared to the 2024 total of 137. The 701-km six-lane access-controlled highway, connecting Vidarbha’s largest city to India’s financial capital, has been gradually opened to traffic since December 2022. It was designed to ease congestion on existing routes and provide faster travel times between major cities. However, the recent accident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety on the corridor. Officials previously mentioned that an Intelligent Traffic Management System is currently being implemented to improve monitoring and enhance road safety measures. The incident underscores the need for continued vigilance and infrastructure improvements on high-speed highways. As emergency crews work to fully clear the site, authorities remain focused on ensuring the long-term safety of travelers using this critical route. The exact cause of the collision is still under investigation, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.