10 Women Killed, 27 Injured as Pick-Up Truck Falls Into Ditch Near Pune

Ten women devotees were killed and 27 others — including two men and two children — were injured when a pick-up truck taking them to the Kundeshwar temple near Pait in Khed taluka. This location is about 65 km from Pune, plunged into a 30-foot-deep ditch around 1 pm on Monday.

More than 35 devotees had boarded the cargo bed of the truck at Papalwadi near Pait. While moving uphill in the ghat section, the vehicle rolled back on a steep slope and tumbled into the ditch. Kundeshwar Temple is a well-known shrine that draws large crowds during the Shravan month.

Police Visit and Casualties Identified

Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey visited the accident site and nearby hospitals along with senior officers. He said that the injured are being treated at private hospitals near the accident site. The victims have been identified as Mandabai Darekar (50), Sanabai Darekar (50), Meerabai Chorghe (50), Shobha Papal (33), Suman Papal (50), Shakubai Chorghe (50), Sharada Chorghe (45), Bayadabai Chorghe (45), Parvatibai Papal (56) and Fasabai Sawant (61) — all residents of Papalwadi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences through the PMO’s official account on X. He also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 each for those injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Doctors Outline Patients’ Injuries

Dr Prafulla Borude from Shivtirth Hospital in Rajgurunagar said, “Five people, including a young boy, are under treatment here. Three of them have critical injuries, including head trauma, while the rest have fractures. Dr Harshad Gawade of Gawade Hospital said that three injured women were brought to the hospital in the afternoon. “One was declared dead on arrival. The other two, who have multiple fractures, are receiving treatment and are in stable condition,” he said.

How the Accident Happened

Police said the owner of the pick-up truck had planned a visit to the Kundeshwar temple with his family on the occasion of Shravani Somwar. Relatives and other residents from Papalwadi joined the trip, travelling in the cargo area of the vehicle. The temple is on a hill, and the approach road is narrow and steep. Deputy Commissioner Shivaji Pawar explained that initial findings suggest the overloaded truck stopped to let a downhill vehicle pass. The driver could not restart on the incline, and the truck rolled backwards into the ditch.

Investigation Underway

Assistant Commissioner Rajendrasingh Gaur said that the temple comes under the jurisdiction of Pune Rural Police, while the road is under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police limits. Teams from both units arrived quickly after getting the call. “Since it was a Shravani Somwar, many devotees were present and helped with rescue,” he noted. Victims were rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Senior Police Inspector Digambar Suryavanshi of Mahalunge MIDC Police said that a case of accidental death is being registered. He added, “The vehicle was overloaded. Further steps will be taken after the investigation.