Mumbai-Pune Expressway Paralyzed for Over 12 Hours After Gas Tanker Accident
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, one of Maharashtra's busiest highways, transformed into a massive parking lot on January 3, 2025, as hundreds of vehicles remained stranded for over twelve hours following a serious accident involving a gas tanker. The incident caused unprecedented traffic chaos, leaving passengers without basic amenities and highlighting critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Gas Tanker Overturn Triggers Complete Highway Shutdown
The crisis began around 5 pm on January 3, 2025, when a gas tanker carrying highly flammable propylene overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district's Khandala Ghat section. According to preliminary reports, the tanker allegedly lost control due to excessive speed combined with the challenging slope of the ghat section, flipping onto the Mumbai-bound carriageway.
The immediate aftermath saw dangerous propylene gas leaking from the damaged tanker, creating panic among motorists and forcing authorities to implement emergency safety protocols. The continuous gas leakage presented significant fire and explosion risks, necessitating immediate traffic restrictions.
Massive Diversion and Prolonged Gridlock
Highway authorities responded by completely closing the Mumbai-bound carriageway as a precautionary measure. All expressway traffic was diverted to the older Mumbai-Pune Highway, while attempts to temporarily reroute Mumbai-bound vehicles onto the Pune-bound lane for approximately two kilometers proved unsuccessful due to persistent gas leakage concerns.
The diversion efforts failed to alleviate the growing congestion, resulting in both carriageways becoming paralyzed with long queues of stationary vehicles. Traffic movement through the critical ghat section came to a complete standstill overnight, with hundreds of private cars, trucks, and public transport vehicles trapped in the gridlock.
Passenger Hardship and Public Transport Disruption
The extended traffic blockage created severe hardship for travelers, many of whom remained stranded near the accident site for several hours without access to essential facilities. Multiple reports confirmed that passengers, including women and children, lacked basic necessities such as:
- Food and drinking water
- Toilet facilities
- Medical assistance
- Information about resolution timelines
An MSRTC bus conductor reported that their vehicle remained stationary for over six hours near the accident site, leaving passengers stranded late into the night without any amenities. This incident highlighted the disproportionate impact on public transport users during such highway emergencies.
Emergency Response and Safety Measures
Multiple agencies worked on a war footing to address the crisis, focusing on two primary objectives:
- Containing the propylene gas leak to prevent potential fire hazards
- Clearing the overturned tanker to restore normal traffic flow
Highway traffic police issued advisories urging motorists to avoid the Mumbai-Pune Expressway until regular movement could be safely restored. The authorities emphasized that the continuous gas leakage remained the primary reason for maintaining strict vehicle restrictions along the affected stretch.
Public Outcry and Social Media Reaction
Frustrated commuters took to social media platforms to express their anger and share harrowing experiences of being trapped overnight. Many described the expressway as resembling a "parking lot" rather than a functioning highway, with some travelers reporting being stuck near popular hill stations Lonavala and Khandala.
The widespread social media commentary included:
- First-hand accounts of overnight travel ordeals
- Calls for improved emergency response mechanisms
- Warnings to other travelers to avoid the route
- Criticism of infrastructure preparedness for such incidents
This incident has raised serious questions about highway safety protocols, emergency response capabilities, and passenger welfare measures during prolonged traffic disruptions on critical transportation corridors like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
