Three Pune Men Die After SUV Falls Off Flyover While Returning From Ladakh

Three young friends from Pune lost their lives in a tragic accident when their Toyota Fortuner plunged off the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway while returning from a road trip to Ladakh. The incident occurred on March 18, 2026, around 10:30 AM between Balapura and Karadiya villages under Kaithun Police Station limits.

The victims, identified as Siddhant Alhat (21), Kunal Choradiya (25), and Mayuresh Padale (23), all residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune, were traveling in one of three Fortuners in a convoy of 12 friends. Police suspect excessive speed or driver fatigue caused the SUV to lose control, smash through the divider, and fall nearly 30 feet, resulting in catastrophic damage to the vehicle.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene with the wreckage scattered below the elevated highway, prompting locals to alert authorities and assist in extricating the bodies. The trio was rushed to Kaithun Community Health Centre but declared dead on arrival due to severe injuries. Their companions in the trailing vehicles witnessed the horror, turning a celebratory return from their February 26 Leh-Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir adventure into profound grief.

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The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a critical 1,386-km infrastructure project connecting Delhi to Mumbai, has seen multiple high-speed crashes since partial openings, raising ongoing safety concerns. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to confirm the exact sequence, with preliminary findings pointing to loss of control amid high velocity on the straight stretch. No other vehicles were involved, and the road was cleared swiftly to restore traffic flow.​

Postmortem procedures were completed in Kota, after which the bodies were handed over to grieving families from Pune. The Pimpri-Chinchwad police are coordinating with Rajasthan counterparts for further formalities, while the community mourns the loss of these vibrant young lives. Friends shared photos of the convoy taken moments before the crash, underscoring the sudden tragedy.

This accident highlights risks on India's expanding expressways, where fatigue during long hauls and speeding remain persistent threats despite engineering safeguards. Officials urge stricter adherence to speed limits and rest breaks for group travels, as investigations continue without additional complications reported.

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