8 Hours and Counting: Mumbai–Pune Expressway Traffic Comes to a Standstill After Gas Tanker Accident
PUNE: Traffic on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway was brought to a complete halt for over more then eight hours on Tuesday evening after a tanker carrying propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi tunnel on the Mumbai-bound carriageway, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
The accident occurred around 4.45 pm, following which traffic from Pune towards Mumbai was immediately stopped as a precautionary measure due to the hazardous nature of the gas. While vehicles heading towards Pune were initially allowed to move, congestion steadily worsened, forcing authorities to eventually halt traffic in both directions.
By late evening, the expressway had turned into a massive parking lot, with vehicles stuck bumper to bumper for kilometres. Many commuters, stranded for hours without any clarity on when movement would resume, stepped out of their vehicles to rest on the road as frustration mounted.
Passengers travelling in state transport and Shivneri buses reported being stuck since evening. Several said they were unaware of the incident when they began their journeys and only realised the seriousness of the situation after seeing updates on social media. By midnight, many remained stranded with no immediate relief in sight.
Emergency services and traffic police were deployed at the site, and National Disaster Response Force teams also reached the spot late at night. However, officials said the clearance operation was delayed due to the highly inflammable and heavy nature of the gas.
Highway Safety Patrol officials said that no vehicle movement could be allowed near the accident site due to safety risks. They added that the process of clearing the tanker and securing the area was expected to continue till at least 4 am on Wednesday, and traffic would remain suspended until then.
The traffic jam reportedly stretched over 25 km in some stretches, particularly near Khopoli, adding to the ordeal of commuters forced to spend hours — and in some cases, the entire night — stranded on the expressway.
