Mumbai-Pune Expressway Grinds to Halt for Over Seven Hours After Gas Tanker Overturns
Traffic on the crucial Mumbai-Pune Expressway came to a complete standstill for more than seven hours on Tuesday evening, creating massive disruptions and leaving thousands of commuters stranded overnight. The chaos began around 4:45 PM when a tanker transporting highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel on the Mumbai-bound carriageway.
Complete Paralysis on Maharashtra's Busiest Highway
What started as a localized incident quickly escalated into a full-blown transportation crisis. Initially, authorities halted traffic only on the Mumbai-bound route as a safety precaution while allowing limited movement towards Pune. However, within hours, congestion worsened dramatically, forcing officials to completely stop vehicular movement in both directions.
The resulting gridlock stretched for kilometers, with long queues of cars, buses, and heavy vehicles creating a chaotic scene on one of Maharashtra's most vital transportation corridors. The standstill continued well past midnight, with frustrated commuters facing unprecedented delays.
Stranded Commuters Face Nightmare Scenario
As hours turned into what seemed like an eternity, stranded passengers grew increasingly desperate. Many who had been trapped in their vehicles for over two hours stepped out to sit or lie down on the road, seeking respite from the confined spaces with no end in sight.
"The accident reportedly happened around 4 PM, but we are still stuck on the road at 11 PM," lamented Manoj Jadhav, a Shivneri bus passenger traveling from Mumbai to Pune. "Had there been any VIP movement, the road would have been cleared immediately. Whatever the reason may be, traffic flow should have resumed within two or three hours maximum."
The situation proved particularly challenging for vulnerable groups. Senior citizens and those with medical conditions faced severe difficulties accessing basic necessities like water and restroom facilities while trapped in the massive jam.
Emergency Response and Safety Concerns
Emergency services, including traffic police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, were deployed to the accident site. However, the delicate nature of the situation complicated rescue operations.
Highway Safety Patrol officers explained the challenges around midnight: "The gas in the overturned tanker is highly inflammable and heavy. No vehicle movement can be risked around the spot. We estimate that it will take till at least 4 AM on Wednesday to clean up the spot. Traffic will need to remain halted till then at least."
The driver of a Vasai-Pune ST bus trapped near Khopoli described the worsening situation: "Initially, traffic was slow towards Pune but now it is at a standstill for over four hours. We are at Khopoli, so the total traffic jam must be over 25 kilometers in the direction of Pune."
Unprecedented Delays and Growing Frustration
Many commuters found themselves completely unprepared for the scale of disruption. Bhagatsingh Shelke, another Shivneri bus passenger who began his journey from Chembur earlier in the day, shared his experience: "I was completely unaware of this traffic jam when we embarked. I saw a few online posts and tweets later while seated in the bus, where several comments mentioned that they have been stuck for over three hours on the route. That is when I realized the seriousness of the situation. Now, it is midnight and I am still stuck here. I am worried that we will have to spend the entire night stranded on the highway."
The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical transportation infrastructure to accidents involving hazardous materials and raises questions about emergency response protocols for such situations on major highways.
