A gas tanker accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Tuesday evening led to massive congestion that left commuters stranded for nearly 27 hours. People had no access to washrooms, drinking water, or food. Videos and photos of the traffic gridlock went viral on social media. Commuters were visibly angry as vehicles remained stuck for hours. Traffic movement finally began to ease around midnight on Wednesday. Here’s what happened.
Massive Traffic Jam On Mumbai-Pune Expressway
Vehicles came to a standstill on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after a gas tanker overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in the Borghat section on Tuesday evening. The tanker was travelling from Kochi to Surat and was carrying highly flammable propylene gas. The accident caused a gas leak, which forced authorities to shut down the Mumbai-bound carriageway as a safety precaution. An X user, @harsh0086, also posted images of the traffic on his social media account.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the closure caused a massive traffic jam. Commuters remained stranded for nearly 27 hours. Many complained that they had no food, water, or access to toilets. They also said there was little communication from officials on the ground. Several stranded passengers took to social media to vent their frustration and appeal for help.
Traffic began piling up around 5:15 pm on Tuesday and stretched into Wednesday. The overturned tanker was finally emptied and moved off the road late on Wednesday night. Emergency response teams, including the NDRF, fire brigade, and a specialised chemical response team from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), rushed to the spot. Officials said containment was delayed due to extremely high gas pressure inside the tanker.
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Passengers Stranded Without Food & Water
According to Hindustan Times, many passengers suffered dehydration, body pain, and anxiety. Pune-based entrepreneur Sudhir Mehta reportedly called a friend and took a helicopter to continue his journey. Another commuter spent the night stuck in his vehicle with two children. He had no milk to feed them, and the children cried throughout the night. In short, the traffic jam on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was something no one was prepared for.
This was reportedly one of the longest traffic gridlocks in the history of the 94.5-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Traffic towards Pune backed up till the Khalapur toll plaza. Meanwhile, commuters heading to Mumbai were stuck in queues stretching 10-12 km. There was absolutely no movement of vehicles for hours. According to Hindustan Times, 73 e-Shivneri services and 66 state transport bus trips were cancelled due to the jam. At least 163 MSRTC buses were also stuck on the expressway for several hours.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He has directed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials to submit a detailed report. Authorities have also been asked to recommend measures to handle such emergencies in the future.
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This was a major traffic gridlock. Have you seen the videos and images on social media?
Cover Image Courtesy: @bhaumikgowande/X
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