NCP Workers Mobilize to Aid Stranded Travellers on Mumbai-Pune Expressway
In a swift response to directives from Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers from Pimpri-Chinchwad sprang into action to assist travellers stranded on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The crisis unfolded after a tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned at Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district on Tuesday evening, leading to a significant gas leak and severe traffic disruptions.
Chaotic Conditions and Resourceful Efforts
Late Wednesday afternoon, as motorists endured a nightmare on the expressway, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar instructed NCP workers to extend the best possible help to those affected. Accordingly, a team of 18-20 NCP workers rushed to the scene with 2,000 food packets and water bottles. Due to the traffic standstill, they opted for two-wheelers, as using four-wheelers was impractical. The workers faced immense challenges, including police restrictions and chaotic vehicle congestion on the Pune-Mumbai highway, which hindered their progress.
Seema Sawale, a former corporator and ex-chairperson of the PCMC standing committee, detailed the difficulties: "We faced all kinds of difficulties in extending help to stranded travellers. After we received directives from the Deputy Chief Minister’s office on Wednesday, we had to first arrange for food packets. We went all over Pimpri-Chinchwad to get the food packets, packed them neatly and then proceeded. We had one four-wheeler and several two-wheelers."
Navigating Through Traffic and Delivering Aid
The NCP workers had to navigate through blocked routes, starting from the Bor ghat police chowky area and moving onto the Pune-Mumbai highway. They traveled through areas like Jambhulgaon, Khadkale, and Kane, approaching Lonavala. Eventually, they left their four-wheeler behind in the Kanhe area and traversed inner parts of Talegaon to reach Wadgaon. Another NCP leader, Sarang Kamtekar, described the ordeal: "We walked four-five kilometres, we rode two-wheelers through the wrong side. There was sheer traffic madness."
Upon reaching the vicinity of Lonavala, the workers encountered fatigued stranded travellers, including many women in private vehicles and buses. Sawale noted: "They looked tired and were without water and food. Women especially had a problem going to the toilet. And during the night, it was impossible for them to get out of their vehicles. Men were seen sitting outside, looking tired, restless and fatigued."
Mission Accomplished Amidst Further Hazards
The mission took nearly five hours to complete, but the return journey was also fraught with danger. Kamtekar recounted: "While returning home, we again got stuck as there was another traffic jam caused by a tanker being hit by a trailer. The accident took place just 10 minutes before we reached. The tanker was full of petrol. A major accident was averted or else, it would have further compounded the situation."
This initiative highlights the dedication of NCP workers in providing critical aid during emergencies, showcasing community resilience in the face of adversity on one of Maharashtra's busiest highways.
