922 accidents, 60 deaths in 3 years:Bhaskar investigates hotspots on Delhi-Mumbai expressway in MP; car speeding at 150 km/h plunged 50 feet

A speeding car on the Delhi–Mumbai eight-lane expressway met with a horrific accident that killed all five occupants on November 14. The vehicle, carrying five people travelling towards Mumbai, was running at nearly 150 kilometers per hour around 7:30 am when the driver lost control. The SUV swerved for several metres, broke through the metal railing, and plunged nearly 50 feet into a gorge near Bhimpura village in Ratlam. Within seconds, the car had fallen off the Mahi River bridge. All five passengers died on the spot. Not the first major accident on the expressway Since the expressway opened, serious accidents have continued unabated.
This year alone, 513 accidents have occurred on the expressway, resulting in 39 deaths. Despite this alarming number, robust safety measures are still missing. Most sections, bridges and culverts are lined only with metal crash barriers, which have repeatedly failed to stop vehicles travelling at high speed. A Dainik Bhaskar team visited the accident location to understand how the tragedy occurred.
Three main causes identified The investigation revealed three primary reasons: Most crashes occur due to overspeeding—vehicles often exceed the prescribed speed limit. On steep gradients, the risk increases significantly. The same happened on Friday: the SUV lost balance on the downward slope and drifted from the overtaking lane. It then rolled nearly 300 feet over uneven rocky terrain before breaking the crash barrier and falling into the gorge. Large pits and stones at the spot, dug for plantation work, made the vehicle’s fall even more violent. The barrier proved insufficient to stop a vehicle moving at 150 kmph. Safety measures remain weak Bhaskar reporters travelled 43 km—from Dhamnod Toll in Ratlam to the accident site—and found major safety gaps across the stretch. Only metal crash barriers line both sides of the eight-lane highway. On bridges, rivers and culverts, the barriers are installed, but the upper section remains open—allowing out-of-control vehicles to fall directly into the riverbeds and ravines. 60 deaths, 992 crashes in 3 years The eight-lane expressway passes through Mandsaur, Ratlam and Jhabua districts in Madhya Pradesh. The state’s 244-km stretch opened on September 27, 2023. In three years, the region has recorded: The victims: A family returning from a wedding Friday’s victims included: The family was returning to Mumbai from a wedding in Gonda, travelling via Kanpur and Delhi. Speed monitoring exists but enforcement is weak According to NHAI officials, speed guns are installed every 10 km and CCTV cameras every 1 km across the 244-km stretch. These devices capture vehicles travelling above the speed limit, and traffic police issue online challans based on number plates. However, enforcement is inconsistent.
Many high-speed vehicles go unchecked, especially those from other states, causing delays in action. 244 km, 900 culverts and bridges — but open gaps remain There are nearly 900 rivers, drains and bridges on this stretch, each surrounded by metal crash barriers. NHAI claims these barriers can hold vehicles travelling up to 120 kmph, but in reality, vehicles at higher speeds frequently break through them, overturn, or fall into gorges. The combination of overspeeding, road slopes and open edges continues to increase accident numbers. Speed limit of 120km/hr for cars NHAI’s response NHAI Director Sandeep Patidar said: He added that drivers must understand the dangers of high-speed driving. Illegal cuts and stray animals add to danger Locals told Bhaskar that villagers have illegally cut through the central divider at several points to cross the highway on bikes.
Stray cattle frequently wander onto the eight-lane stretch, and no effective system is in place to prevent this. These issues have contributed to many accidents. Three vehicles fell into gorges in one month At Palsodi village, reporters found broken crash barriers on a bridge. Residents said three vehicles had fallen into the ravine in just one month.
Despite repeated accidents, repairs remain slow. Five major accidents in 5 months…