Dumper rams 8 vehicles, catches fire on Katraj-Dehu Road

Pune: An out-of-control dumper truck rammed eight vehicles and later caught fire on the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass between Dari Pul and Vadgaon Bridge around 6pm on Wednesday, disrupting traffic for nearly an hour. No one was injured in the incident.Senior inspector Sharad Zine of Ambegaon police said the truck, loaded with crushed stone, was heading towards Navale Bridge from the New Katraj tunnel when the driver lost control. "Within a stretch of about 100 metres near Dari Pul (viaduct), the dumper hit seven cars and SUVs travelling ahead," he said. The vehicle then sped towards Bhumkar Bridge and struck another car.Senior inspector Aasaram Shete of Narhe police said the truck moved nearly 300m after the eighth collision before its rear portion caught fire. "We suspect continuous impact and excessive heat caused a tyre to ignite, engulfing the rear section in flames," he said.Fire brigade personnel doused the blaze promptly. Police shifted damaged vehicles to the side and restored traffic within an hour. The driver allegedly fled but later contacted police and reached the station.