Mumbai: Traffic on the iconic Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway, which is India's first expressway connecting Mumbai to Pune, was hit by an unprecedented traffic jam for over 24 hours because of an accident involving a gas tanker.
The vehicular snarl - described by locals as the worst-ever in the 26-year-old history of the critical thoroughfare linking the country's commercial and cultural capital - took the travellers and the authorities by complete surprise leading to delayed response measures.
At the time of going to Press, normalcy was yet to be restored.
The gas tanker, carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel on the Expressway off the Khandala Ghat section blocking the traffic.
With flammable propylene gas still leaking from the tanker, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) teams have been deployed to manage the situation, and the operation is likely to continue until Wednesday evening before normal vehicular movement can be restored.
An empty tanker is being brought where the gas would be transferred after which the overturned container would be removed from the main road.
There was a traffic jam on both the carriageways.
Because of the jam, many people missed flights and trains.
Throughout the day, the people faced severe hardships because of lack of drinking water and food. The children and the senior citizens were worst affected. The mobile phone charge also drained out for several people who were not carrying power banks.
The jam was as long as 20 to 25 kilometres.
After imposing blocks of 15 to 20 minutes, vehicular movement towards Mumbai was allowed from the Pune lane of the expressway and this has resulted in reducing congestion. However, because of the heavy traffic flow on the route, the situation compounded.
The Mumbai-Pune traffic was diverted from several other routes.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the administration to immediately extend relief.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is also the Minister of Public Works (Public Enterprises), was briefed about the station.
Thousands of private cars and SUVs, heavy vehicles, trucks and buses were stranded.
According to information received from the Transport Department, due to the situation arising after this accident, a total of 139 bus trips across various divisions in the state have been canceled. This includes 73 e-Shivneri trips and 66 other bus trips.
Additionally, a total of 163 vehicles from the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation Ltd were stuck in the traffic jam on this Expressway. This includes 46 vehicles from the Satara division, 36 from the Solapur division, 20 from the Pune division, 18 from the Sangli division, 13 from the Kolhapur division, 12 from the Palghar division, 11 from the Thane division, and 7 from the Mumbai division.
Pune Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill told the media that reinforcements had been called to manage the crisis and prevent any untoward scenes, while efforts continued to break the traffic gridlock.