4 killed, 4 injured as ST bus, SUV collide near Malshej Ghat in Murbad

Thane: At least four people from Ahilyanagar district were killed, and four others sustained injuries after a Maharashtra State Transport (ST) bus collided head-on with a Scorpio on National Highway 61 near Malshej Ghat in Murbad taluka on Tuesday afternoon.This is the second major accident on this highway in a month, which occurred on a treacherous hilly stretch, and has once again raised concerns over speeding on the recently widened highway.According to police, all eight occupants of the Scorpio were travelling from Ahilyanagar district to Dombivli to visit an ailing relative when the mishap took place. Among those killed was Abhishek Mote (40), whose wife and two children were also in the vehicle and are among the injured. His 13-year-old daughter is said to be in a critical condition.The collision occurred around 12.30 pm between Takora and Umbarli villages, a stretch known for sharp curves and slopes in the ghat section. Officials said the ST bus was travelling from Kalyan towards Ahilyanagar, while the Scorpio was heading in the opposite direction when the two vehicles crashed into each other. The force of the impact left the Scorpio severely mangled, trapping the occupants inside.Residents were the first to respond, rushing to the scene and helping pull out the injured from the wreckage before alerting the police. A team from Tokawade police station soon reached the spot and shifted the victims to the nearby Tokawade primary health centre.Police identified three of the deceased as Abhishek Mote (40), Avinash Kakde (52), and Meena Madke (51), who died on the spot due to the severity of the injuries. Neeta Dhure (52) was taken to the Tokawade Primary Health Centre, where she later succumbed during treatment.The injured have been identified as Monika Mote (38), Aaradhya Mote (13), Vedant Mote (4), and Manisha Kohak (65). All four were initially given first aid and later shifted to a private Aayush hospital in Kalyan for advanced treatment. Dr Rajesh Raju from Aayush hospital, attending to them, said Aaradhya has suffered serious head injuries and remains in a critical state, while her mother, Monika, has sustained multiple injuries but is currently out of danger.Tokawade police have registered a case of accidental death and initiated further investigation into the incident. Police inspector Sheetal Naik said preliminary findings indicate that overspeeding on a curved and sloping section of the ghat road may have led to the accident. "The stretch where the accident occurred is particularly risky due to sharp bends and gradients. Both vehicles appear to have been moving at considerable speed," an officer said.Officials also pointed out that the stretch of National Highway 61 between Kalyan and Malsej ghat has recently been widened to a four-lane concrete road, which has inadvertently led motorists to drive at higher speeds. This is the second major accident reported on the same highway within a month. In a similar incident near the Rayata bridge in Kalyan last month, a passenger tempo collided head-on with a cement mixer, killing 11 people on the spot. That stretch of the bridge had partially opened at the time, which also contributed to traffic confusion and risk.Following Tuesday's accident, authorities have once again urged motorists to exercise caution while driving through the Kalyan–Malshej Ghat stretch. Drivers have been advised to reduce speed, especially at curves and slopes, and adhere strictly to traffic rules to prevent such fatal mishaps in the future.