Actors Stuck, Shoots Cancelled: Deteriorating Road Conditions Paralyses Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway
Actors Stuck, Shoots Cancelled: Hydrogen Truck Fire Paralyzes Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway
Early Saturday, a truck carrying hydrogen gas cylinders overturned and ignited on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Vasai, on the Gujarat side. The driver suffered minor injuries, but the accident caused a huge traffic jam, severely affecting the commute of many, including actors traveling to Naigaon for their shoots.
Vaibhav Mathur, an actor from “Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai!”, was among those impacted. He shared his experience on social media, saying, “Our set is at Naigaon, 17 km from my home in Mira Road. It usually takes me around 25 minutes to reach the set. Today, I left at 7.10 am and reached the Bhayander-Vasai bridge by 7.15 am. It’s 2.30 pm now and I’m still stuck here. It’s a major problem.
We can’t keep the car engine on for long or step out because it’s pouring heavily. I hadn’t eaten anything since morning. I am in touch with a couple of co-actors, and they are also stuck. It’s unfortunate that an express highway can’t function properly.”
Ismail Umar Khan, the director of “Tulsi Hamari Badi Sayani”, also encountered significant delays. “We had a 9 am shift in Naigaon. A few cast members, unit members, and I were stranded on the bridge for three hours. The production house had no choice but to cancel the shoot. Since I couldn’t move my car, I left it on the bridge and took a lift from Aparna Dixit (an actor from the show) to return home.
It usually takes about two hours to commute to Naigaon, and with a bit of delay, it can take four hours during the monsoon due to bad roads. But today was terrible. Several shoots have been called off because many are stuck in the jam,” he explained.
Shagun Sharma, currently seen in “Yeh Hai Chahatein”, chose to take a train instead of driving. “The production team informed me that the traffic was expected to delay my commute to the set by three and a half hours, whereas it usually takes about an hour.
I’ve experienced up to five hours of traffic on my way to the set before, so, I was relieved to be informed in advance. I parked my car at Borivali station and took the train to Naigaon. I left at 11 am for a 12 pm call time and reached around 2 pm. Thankfully, travelling by train saved me from hours of being stuck in traffic,” she said.
Sumbul Touqeer, from “Kavya – Ek Jazbaa Ek Junoon”, was relieved at the shoot cancellation. “At around 8.30, I received a call from my production team informing me that the shoot was cancelled today due to an issue on the highway. I then read the news about the explosion and saw some videos of people who had been stuck since 7 in the morning. Being stuck in the car for six hours would have been incredibly difficult and a nightmare. I am praying the situation improves soon and everyone gets home safely.”
Rinku Ghosh, from “Anokhaa Bandhan”, also escaped the chaos. “I was supposed to go for the shoot, but luckily, I found out from my production manager and other cast members that the company car was stuck in traffic. The production house sends a car to the station for pick-up and drop-off. When I learnt about the traffic hazards, I stayed back. The shoot has been cancelled for the day,” she noted.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved safety measures and efficient communication during travel disruptions.
