Ratnagiri, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A police officer and a container truck driver were killed after a speeding truck carrying iron rods rammed into a vehicle belonging to the Hathkhamba Highway Traffic Police Unit near Anjanari Bridge on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. Two other police personnel were seriously injured in the accident, officials said on Sunday.
The accident occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday when the police vehicle was heading towards the site after receiving information about another vehicle having fallen into the river beneath Anjanari Bridge.
While proceeding towards the location, the police vehicle was hit from behind by the container truck carrying iron rods.
The impact sent the police vehicle plunging approximately 80 to 100 feet down a steep embankment towards the river. The container truck also veered off the highway and overturned into a gorge, officials said.
Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Appasaheb Gaikwad, 51, and the truck driver lost their lives. Two police personnel sustained serious injuries.
Following the accident, Lanja Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kadam, Police Inspector Dipali Jadhav, Assistant Police Inspector Satyaraj Ghule, Sub-Inspector Balwant Patil and other police personnel rushed to the spot and arranged for the injured to be taken to hospital.
The injured were initially given primary treatment at Pali Rural Hospital before being shifted to Ratnagiri District Government Hospital. However, ASI Gaikwad succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The container truck driver also died while undergoing treatment, officials said.
Constable Anil Ashok Shingade, who was critically injured, is being shifted to Sangli for advanced medical treatment.
The accident has once again raised concerns over road safety near Anjanari Bridge, a stretch known for its sharp bends and steep slopes.
The incident has also renewed calls for stricter speed-control measures and improved safety arrangements along this accident-prone section of the Mumbai-Goa National Highway.
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