The container truck in Kasara Ghat
Police said the couple was travelling from Ghoti to Kasara to attend a Shraddh ceremony when a container truck heading towards Mumbai overturned after suffering a tyre burst around 11 am on Friday. Because the container had to be unloaded before it could be lifted, recovery work slowed.
Since it completely covered the motorcycle and the victims, nobody could see the couple buried underneath,” said inspector Bhavna Mahajan of Highway Police. Police said speeding heavy vehicles often struggle to navigate the descent, despite warning signs and safety measures along the route. The truck toppled onto their two-wheeler and buried both victims beneath its weight. The truck driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Neither he nor the first responders realised that the couple had been crushed under the container. When police reached the spot, they found the heavily loaded truck lying on its side. “The container was carrying a heavy load. We could not lift it immediately. The accident occurred on the new Kasara Ghat stretch, a steep section known for sharp bends and heavy traffic. Authorities have installed warning signs and speed advisories along the descent. They have also built a mud-filled runaway ramp, allowing motorists who lose control on the steep ghat section to steer into it and bring their vehicles to a safe halt.
Police and rescuers discovered the bodies of Jalinder and Anusaya Bhagat (both in their mid 50s) only on Saturday, after a clearance team’s crane lifted the overturned truck that had crushed their motorcycle on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the Bhagat family spent more than a day searching for the couple. Their search ended when they learnt that two bodies had been found under the overturned truck in Kasara Ghat.