Mumbai-Pune traffic eases after tanker chaos

Normal traffic resumed on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway early Thursday after a massive 33-hour disruption that left thousands of commuters stranded. The congestion began Tuesday evening when a tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned in the hilly Khandala Ghat section.

Authorities first emptied the tanker before removing it near the Adoshi tunnel in the early hours of Thursday. Traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway was restored at around 1:46 am once safety checks were completed.

The prolonged blockade caused severe hardship for travellers across the roughly 90-kilometre corridor between Mumbai and Pune. At its worst, queues of stationary vehicles stretched up to 20 kilometres. Many passengers, including women and children, were stuck inside vehicles for hours without access to food, drinking water, or toilets.

Officials transferred nearly 21 tonnes of propylene gas into another tanker before clearing the accident site, prioritising safety due to the hazardous nature of the cargo.

In response to the large-scale disruption, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry and directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to submit a detailed report with recommendations to better manage such emergencies in the future.

The incident has once again raised concerns about disaster preparedness and infrastructure management on one of India’s busiest expressways.