Tushar Bhumkar Dies: Congress Worker Killed After SUV Collides With Mini Truck Inside Pune-Mumbai Expressway Missing Link
Tushar Bhumkar Dies: Congress worker and Wakad resident Tushar Bhumkar, 35, was killed after his speeding Fortuner SUV crashed into a mini truck inside the Pune-Mumbai Expressway Missing Link tunnel. Six others were injured in the accident. Police booked the SUV driver for negligent driving and said speeding was a preliminary cause behind the late-night collision.
Local Congress worker and Wakad resident Tushar Bhumkar, 35, died after the SUV he was travelling in collided with a mini truck inside the Pune-Mumbai Expressway’s ‘Missing Link’ tunnel in the early hours of Friday, August 7. Six other people, including occupants of both vehicles, were injured in the accident. Police have booked the SUV driver for alleged negligent driving.
According to police, the accident took place around 1.20 am when the SUV travelling towards Mumbai hit a goods tempo carrying vegetables from behind inside the nearly 9-km-long tunnel. Bhumkar, who was seated next to the driver, died due to the impact of the collision. The injured were shifted to a hospital and are reported to be stable. Ketan Bhatikar Dead: Goa Congress Leader Dies of Snakebite at 38.
Tushar Bhumkar Dies in Missing Link Accident
🕊️ भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली 💐
कै. तुषार वामन भुमकर यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली! 🙏
ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्म्यास चिरशांती प्रदान करो आणि त्यांच्या कुटुंबीयांना हे दुःख सहन करण्याचे बळ देवो, हीच ईश्वरचरणी प्रार्थना.
ॐ शांती! 🕯️#Shraddhanjali #OmShanti #Tribute #Condolences #Respect… pic.twitter.com/EAZjLAYICw
— Tushar Hinge (मा. उपमहापौर, पिंपरी-चिंचवड) (@tusharrhinge) August 7, 2026
काल रात्री मिसिंग लिंक बोगद्यात फॉर्चुनर चा अपघात होऊन एकाचा मृत्यू झाला.
गाडीचा वेग पहा किती आहे.. pic.twitter.com/HXdMMzq1A3
— यदुनाथ जवळकर🔥 (@yadujavalkar) August 7, 2026
Tushar Bhumkar Dies in Missing Link Tunnel Crash
The deceased was identified as Tushar Bhumkar, a resident of the Bhumkar Chowk area in Wakad, Pimpri Chinchwad. His wife had contested the civic body elections as a Congress candidate.
Police said the SUV, a Fortuner (MH 14 MG 0007), was travelling from Pune towards Mumbai when it rammed into a goods tempo (MH 01 CR 7075) inside the tunnel. Shivaji Pawar, Superintendent (Pune Range), Highway Safety Patrol (HSP), said the SUV struck the truck from the rear at around 1.20 am. Ashwini Joshi Dies: Former Congress MLA and 3-Time Indore Legislator Passes Away at 66 After Heart Attack.
Speeding Suspected as Cause of Accident
Sachin Patil, inspector at Lonavala City Police Station, said the initial investigation suggested speeding was the reason behind the crash.
“Bhumkar was sitting next to the driver. He died in the mishap. Four others in the SUV, along with the driver and cleaner of the Tempo, received minor injuries in the incident. They were taken to a hospital for treatment and are stable. Prima facie, it is known that speeding was the cause behind the mishap. Further investigation is on,” said Sachin Patil, inspector, Lonavala city police station.
Police officials said further investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances leading to the collision.
Traffic Disrupted After Crash
Following the accident, Mumbai-bound traffic on the expressway was suspended for nearly two hours. Vehicles were diverted through the old Mumbai-Pune highway route until the accident vehicles were removed and the road was cleared.
Teams from the Highway Police, IRB patrol, Devdoot emergency response unit and other rescue agencies reached the spot and helped remove the injured from the damaged SUV. Traffic movement towards Mumbai resumed after both vehicles involved in the collision were cleared from the highway.
Bhumkar’s death led to condolences from social and political circles in Wakad and Pimpri Chinchwad. He was known as a local Congress worker and young entrepreneur. His wife had contested the municipal election from Ward 25 on a Congress ticket during the civic polls held in February this year.
The Highway Police have registered a case against the SUV driver and are investigating the accident. Authorities are examining factors including vehicle speed, road conditions inside the tunnel and the circumstances that led to the collision.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2026 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
