Pune-Mumbai Expressway Traffic Returns to Normal After Major Gas Tanker Incident
Traffic flow on the crucial Pune-Mumbai Expressway has been fully restored following an extensive 32-hour disruption caused by a hazardous gas tanker accident. The incident, which created one of the longest traffic halts in the expressway's history, was resolved through a carefully coordinated emergency operation involving multiple agencies.
Critical Incident Near Adoshi Tunnel
The crisis began around 5 pm on Tuesday when a Bharat Petroleum tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned while navigating a curve near the entrance to the Adoshi Tunnel on the Mumbai-bound corridor in Raigad district. The tanker was transporting propylene, an industrial gas extensively used in petrochemical manufacturing that poses significant explosion risks when leaked.
Following the accident, authorities detected a dangerous gas leak from the damaged tanker, prompting immediate safety measures. The Pune-Mumbai expressway corridor was completely closed to all vehicular traffic as emergency teams rushed to the scene to assess the situation and prevent potential disaster.
Emergency Response and Traffic Diversion
Teams from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched a comprehensive operation to control the hazardous gas leak. As a precautionary measure, traffic on both expressway corridors was halted entirely, with vehicles being diverted to the older Pune-Mumbai highway at various earlier points.
The traffic diversion resulted in substantial congestion, with queues extending up to 20 kilometers along the expressway. The expressway, recognized as a vital lifeline connecting two of Maharashtra's most important metropolitan centers, experienced unprecedented disruption affecting thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles.
High-Risk Gas Transfer Operation
After partially controlling the gas leak, authorities determined that the safest course of action involved transferring the remaining propylene from the damaged tanker to multiple empty tankers. This delicate operation commenced around 6 pm on Wednesday and continued through the night, concluding successfully at approximately 2 am on Thursday.
Vikrant Deshmukh, Superintendent of Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) in Pune, confirmed the completion of this high-risk transfer and the subsequent resumption of traffic. "Following the completion of gas transfer, the traffic on both corridors on the expressway resumed," Deshmukh stated. "It took a few hours for the traffic situation to become normal as a large number of heavy vehicles were passing through the expressway."
Return to Normal Operations
The expressway's return to normal operations marks the end of a significant transportation crisis that highlighted both the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the effectiveness of coordinated emergency response. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges involved in transporting hazardous materials through busy transportation corridors and the importance of robust safety protocols.
While traffic has normalized, authorities continue to investigate the exact circumstances that led to the tanker overturning. The successful resolution of this dangerous situation without any reported explosions or casualties demonstrates the effectiveness of the emergency response systems in place for such hazardous material incidents on major transportation routes.
