Heartbreak on the Expressway: Two Engineering Students Killed in Tragic Lonavala Return

A weekend getaway to Lonavala ended in unimaginable sorrow for a group of engineering students, as a devastating car accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway claimed the lives of two young men and left two others injured. The tragic incident, occurring in the early hours of Sunday near the Urse toll plaza in Maval taluka, has sent shockwaves through their college community and left families shattered.

The deceased have been identified as Ayan, a bright student from Rajasthan, and Rishikesh Kadam, who hailed from Solapur.

Both were dedicated students at the Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Engineering in Akurdi, with promising futures ahead. They were among four friends returning from a leisurely trip to the popular hill station when their journey took a fatal turn.

According to preliminary investigations by the Maval Police, the accident unfolded when the Hyundai Accent in which the students were traveling collided with a truck that was reportedly parked haphazardly by the roadside.

The impact was catastrophic, resulting in the immediate demise of Ayan and Rishikesh. The car's owner and driver, Kunal Bhamare, along with another passenger, Shreyas Mane, sustained various injuries and were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the precise circumstances leading to the crash.

Maval Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the driver of the parked truck, who is believed to have fled the scene shortly after the collision. The case has been filed under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 304A (causing death by negligence), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), in addition to relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.

This heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the critical importance of road safety protocols, especially on high-speed highways like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

As the community mourns the loss of these vibrant young lives, police continue their relentless efforts to apprehend the absconding truck driver and bring justice to the grieving families.