Pune, At least two college students were killed and two others injured when a car collided with a truck on the Mumbai-Bangalore highway in Pune district, Maharashtra on Thursday morning. According to police, the accident occurred around 5:45 AM near Eidgah Maidan on Dehu Road when four students were returning from Lonavala hill station.

An officer from Dehu Road police station stated that the car rear-ended a truck. All four students were pursuing BBA at Symbiosis College and had visited Lonavala for sightseeing. The accident happened while they were returning to Pune. The officer reported that Divya Raj Singh Rathod (20) and Siddhant Anand Shekhar (20) died on the spot, while two other students, Harsh Mishra (21) and Nihar Tamboli (20), sustained minor injuries. They have been hospitalized.

Police reported that truck driver Manish Kumar Suraj Manipal (39), a resident of Wadala, Mumbai, has been taken into custody and the investigation is ongoing.

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Mumbai-Bangalore highway

The Mumbai-Bangalore highway is a major transportation artery in western and southern India, connecting the financial capital of Mumbai with the tech hub of Bangalore. Historically, it evolved from older trade and postal routes, with significant portions now being upgraded to a modern, multi-lane expressway as part of the National Highway 48 corridor. This vital link facilitates immense economic activity and the movement of people and goods between the two metropolitan regions.

Eidgah Maidan

Eidgah Maidan is a large open-ground public prayer space located in Hyderabad, India, primarily used for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha congregational prayers. Historically, the land was a gift from the Nizam of Hyderabad to the Muslim community. It has also been a significant site for political and public gatherings throughout the city’s history.

Dehu Road

Dehu Road is a town in the Indian state of Maharashtra, most famous for being the birthplace of the 18th-century saint and poet Sant Tukaram, a central figure in the Varkari sect of Hinduism. It is a major pilgrimage site, home to the Tukaram Vaikuntha Samadhi Mandir temple which marks his final resting place. The town’s history and cultural identity are deeply intertwined with his devotional poetry and teachings.

Lonavala hill station

Lonavala is a popular hill station in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, known for its lush green valleys, waterfalls, and ancient caves like the Karla and Bhaja Caves. Its history as a retreat dates back to the 19th century when it was developed by the British Raj as a summer escape from the heat of Mumbai and Pune. Today, it remains a major tourist destination famous for its scenic beauty and local chikki (a sweet snack).

Symbiosis College

Symbiosis College is part of the Symbiosis International University, a prominent educational institution in Pune, India, founded in 1971 by Dr. S. B. Mujumdar. It was established with the philosophy of promoting international understanding through quality education. The college is well-regarded for its diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields like management, law, and the arts.