A breakdown never happens at a convenient time or place. Maybe you're stuck on the Lohegaon-Wagholi stretch during evening traffic, or your bike won't start outside the airport road, or a tyre's gone flat on a narrow lane with no shoulder to pull onto. What you do in the first five minutes decides whether the next hour is a minor inconvenience or a mess.

Here's a working checklist, built around how RK Towing Services actually handles calls out of Lohegaon.

1. Get off the road first, call second

If the vehicle still moves even a little, get it to the side — a parking bay, a side lane, anywhere out of the main traffic flow. Put the hazard lights on. If you're on a bike and can wheel it to the curb, do that before you touch your phone. More breakdown injuries happen from a stalled vehicle getting hit than from the mechanical failure itself.

2. Note your exact location before you call

"Near the flyover" isn't enough for a tow truck driving through Lohegaon traffic to find you. Drop a Google Maps pin, or read out the nearest landmark and the road name. If you're near Pawar Wasti Road or Datta Mandir, say so — RK Towing Services is based right there and knows the lanes around it well.

3. Say what's wrong, not just that it's broken

Flat tyre, dead battery, overheated engine, accident damage, bike that won't start — each one changes what the tow truck needs to bring. RK Towing Services runs recovery for cars, bikes and heavy vehicles, so telling them the vehicle type up front means the right equipment shows up the first time.

4. Ask for an arrival estimate, not just confirmation

A real towing operation gives you a time window, not a vague "on the way." Since RK Towing Services runs 24/7 and covers Pune, a call at 2am gets the same response as one at 2pm — ask for the estimate either way so you know whether to wait in the vehicle or move somewhere safer nearby.

5. Have your payment ready before the truck arrives

RK Towing Services takes UPI or cash — no card, no EMI. Knowing that in advance means you're not scrambling for change or a working UPI app once the truck is already hooked up and ready to go.

6. Keep the vehicle papers with you

RC book, insurance copy, and your ID. If the tow is heading to a garage or an insurance-approved workshop, having these on hand at pickup saves a second trip back to wherever the vehicle broke down.

7. If it's an accident, not just a breakdown

Heavy vehicle recovery after a collision is a different job from towing a car with a dead battery — it usually needs winching equipment and more care around the damaged parts. RK Towing Services handles all three categories — car, bike and heavy vehicle — so the same call covers it, but be clear about the accident when you call so the crew comes prepared.

Who's behind the truck

RK Towing Services has operated out of Lohegaon since 2010, run by Rahul Kulkarni. The shop is on Pawar Wasti Road, near Datta Mandir, Lohegaon, Pune 411047, and covers breakdowns and recovery across Pune, not just the immediate neighbourhood. Being local to Lohegaon means faster response for anyone stuck on the airport road, Wagholi stretch, or nearby lanes — the truck isn't crossing the city to reach you.

Save the number before you need it. A breakdown at midnight on an empty road is not when you want to be searching for a towing service for the first time.

Check the RK Towing Services page for the contact number and current details.