A Pune-Solapur Highway accident near Rajwadi in Indapur taluka killed a 25-year-old construction worker and injured another after a large mound of soil, murum and debris collapsed beside an under-construction flyover on Friday morning.
The incident occurred between approximately 10 am and 10.15 am while workers were constructing a retaining wall and carrying out embankment work along the highway. Six workers were reportedly present at the site. Three had gone for tea when the mound suddenly gave way, trapping two workers underneath.
The deceased worker was identified as 25-year-old Mashrubal Sheikh. The injured worker was identified as 30-year-old Narim Akhtar. Both men were originally from West Bengal, according to the report. A third worker escaped and alerted his colleagues after the collapse.
Local residents, officials from the National Highways Authority of India, police personnel and revenue department teams reached the site after being informed about the incident. Rescue operations were launched immediately, and both workers were pulled out from beneath the debris. Sheikh was declared dead after being recovered, while Akhtar was taken to the Indapur sub-district hospital for treatment. His condition was reported to be stable.
The collapse took place at a work zone near a flyover, where retaining-wall construction and side-shoulder filling were under way. The available report does not specify the contractor responsible for the work, the precise quantity of material that collapsed or whether a formal safety inspection had been conducted before the incident.
The incident has brought renewed attention to safety arrangements at construction sites along national highways, particularly where workers operate near unstable soil, embankments and heavy construction materials. Questions have also been raised about whether required protective measures and site-stability checks were being followed at the location.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar expressed grief over the worker’s death and directed the administration to conduct a detailed inquiry and take necessary action, according to the report. The next steps are expected to include an administrative examination of the collapse and the safety practices followed at the highway construction site.
