Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 4: Traffic came to a grinding halt on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after a gas tanker overturned in the Khandala Ghat section, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded and triggering massive congestion on both carriageways, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the expressway control room, the accident took place around 5 pm on Tuesday near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district, when the tanker, reportedly moving at high speed, lost control on the slope and overturned.
Soon after the mishap, propylene gas—a highly flammable substance—was found leaking from the tanker, creating panic among motorists.
As a precautionary measure, police closed Mumbai-bound traffic, and vehicles were diverted onto the Pune-bound carriageway for around a 2-km stretch. However, normal movement could not be restored due to the continuous gas leak, resulting in long queues and crawling traffic for more than 12 hours, affecting even Pune-bound commuters.
Several passengers remained stuck for hours without access to food, water, and toilet facilities. An MSRTC bus conductor said the vehicle had been stationary for over six hours near the accident spot, leaving passengers in distress.
Frustrated motorists took to social media to vent their anger, with some describing the expressway as a “parking lot” and urging others to avoid travel unless necessary.
Authorities were continuing efforts to manage the situation and restore traffic flow safely.