On February 4, an accident where a gas tanker overturned on the overcrowded road between Mumbai and Pune caused a gas spillage, which led to the encouragement of authorities to stop traffic flow along major roads. The Mumbai-Pune expressway and the previous Mumbai-Pune highway (NH-48) were also impacted by the incident, and it stranded thousands of commuters.
The cause of the tanker accident was reported to have taken place at around 5 pm on Tuesday when the vehicle that was being claimed to have been travelling at a very high speed lost control after descending down a slope and overturned close to the tunnel. The tanker was transporting propylene gases that are very flammable. Police had to prevent any traffic to Mumbai immediately after the accident as the vehicle was leaking gas even a few hours after the crash.
The government highly cautioned commuters against traveling to the Lonavala-Khandala ghat route and issued traffic warnings directing travelers to strategize their routes. Other routes were proposed due to congestion, such as the Tamhini Ghat route, the Malshej Ghat route, and the Bhimashankar-Manchar stretch to replace the Mumbai to Pune vehicles.
These measures did not stop the traffic jams, which took an excess of 15 hours, with cars stagnating around the scene of the accident. The commuters, women, children, and elderly passengers complained that they were suffering incredibly because of the absence of the most fundamental needs like food, toilets, drinking water, and cesspools. Some had to conserve and spend hours sitting in parked cars, even during the changing weather conditions.
Some of the commuters reported experience fatigue, dehydration, and panic attacks. Parents had difficulties in handling infants, and professionals had missed important work engagements as a result of the protracted jam. On several occasions, drivers would be spotted reversing or getting off the expressway halfway and foregoing crucial need arrangements and traveling schedules.
According to the officials, there was a struggle to control the gaseous leakage and safely eliminate the tanker, and then, control traffic would be revived gradually. The commuters were encouraged to be watchful and abide by official updates.
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