Three friends from Pune lost their lives on Wednesday morning when the Toyota Fortuner they were travelling in fell off a flyover on the Delhi‑Mumbai Expressway in Kota district, Rajasthan. The young men were returning home after a vacation in Ladakh with a group of friends.
The group of 10 friends had travelled in three vehicles. While two cars had stopped briefly on the expressway, the Fortuner, carrying Sidhant Alaat (21), Kunal Chordiya (25), and Mayurewa Padale (23), continued driving. Near Balapura village, the SUV hit a divider, lost control, and plunged about 30 feet into a dry sewer beneath the flyover.
All three passengers were seriously injured and were declared dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Their bodies were later sent for autopsy at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Kaithoon, police said. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash, but initial reports suggest the driver may have dozed off during the long journey.
The accident has highlighted the risks of long-distance night driving, especially on high-speed expressways. Police are examining the vehicle and road conditions to confirm whether fatigue, speed, or road factors contributed to the tragedy.
The three friends lived in different parts of Pune namely Wakad, Mahalunge, and Pimpri and had been on an extended Ladakh trip that included Leh and surrounding areas. Their journey had been briefly delayed due to snowfall in the region, and they had resumed their drive home once conditions improved.
Family members have reached Kota to complete formalities and take the bodies back to Pune. Friends and local residents expressed grief over the loss, remembering the trio as enthusiastic travellers and close companions.
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