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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety on Monday directed the Maharashtra government to carry out a “thorough and independent crash investigation” into the recent accident on the Pune–Bangalore highway in which eight people were burnt alive and 13 others injured. It asked the state to get the probe conducted by an institute of repute, like IIT-Delhi, to determine causes, identify those responsible and suggest measures to prevent such incidents.In his letter to Maharashtra chief secretary Rajesh Kumar, committee chairman and former SC judge Abhay Manohar Sapre said the severity of the crash, which resulted in so many deaths, necessitates a proper investigation. “The crash investigation should examine and expose any systemic lapses in safety regulations, vehicle maintenance, emergency response protocols and laxity in the enforcement of safety norms that contributed to the high number of fatalities,” Sapre said.The crash happened last Thursday evening when the committee was on a tour to Pune. In the accident near Navale Bridge, 20 to 25 vehicles rammed one another in a chain collision and a container truck is said to have set off the crash, following which several vehicles caught fire.The committee said the investigation’s findings and recommendations would help in taking corrective action, ensuring accountability and enhancing public safety. For independent investigation, it asked the state to order the probe by a reputable institution with expertise in accident reconstruction through simulation and further analysis. “Enquiry by an IIT increases the credibility of the investigation system,” the letter mentioned.The SC panel’s independent probe gains significance in light of the fact that in most cases, crash investigations are conducted either by government bodies or by NGOs acting at the request of authorities concerned. The Motor Vehicles Act mandates through probe into major road crashes.