Mumbai-Pune Expressway Jam Lasts 32 Hours After Propylene Tanker Accident

Mumbai: The Mumbai-Pune Expressway came to a standstill for nearly 32 hours following a tanker accident in the Bhor Ghat section of Raigad district, causing severe disruption for thousands of commuters. Traffic was finally restored after authorities removed a highly flammable propylene gas tanker from near the Adoshi Tunnel.

The accident occurred when the tanker carrying propylene gas overturned, triggering an immediate safety alert. Both directions of the expressway were closed, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded, including small children, elderly passengers, and patients traveling to Mumbai for medical treatment. Public transport was heavily affected, with 139 MSRTC bus services canceled and additional pressure on private buses and railway services, resulting in unusual crowds along the Pune-Mumbai rail corridor.

Why It Took So Long to Clear the Expressway

Officials stated that the tanker driver lost control on a slope near the tunnel, causing the vehicle to overturn. Three of the tanker’s valves were damaged, making it impossible to seal the leak immediately. Teams from the NDRF, fire brigade, state disaster management, and the oil company arrived at the scene, but the gas leak persisted for hours. Specialists were brought in to transfer the gas to another tanker, a process completed by 10:30 PM on Wednesday. Cooling of the overturned tanker and removal with a crane followed, allowing authorities to reopen one lane of the expressway.

Stranded Commuters Endure Hardship

Among those stuck were children, senior citizens, and patients, including 57-year-old Sunita Patil, who spent hours trapped in her car without food or water. Her family had to send a two-wheeler to help her exit safely. Another commuter was unable to reach Mumbai for a scheduled hospital appointment for a cancer patient. Many stranded travelers reported waiting overnight in vehicles without basic facilities.

Some commuters, informed via social media, were able to take alternative routes. Residents like Wasim Jod avoided the jam by taking a U-turn at the Urse toll plaza and traveling via the Tamhini Ghat. Others, upon learning of the jam, canceled their trips altogether.

Timeline of Events

• Tuesday, 4:45 PM: Tanker carrying propylene gas overturns near Bhor Ghat while heading to Mumbai, causing a leak.
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Traffic to Mumbai halted; Pune-bound lane closed as a precaution.
• 7:00 PM: Long queues form, stranding hundreds of vehicles and thousands of commuters.
• 9:00 PM: NDRF, fire brigade, highway police, and disaster management teams reach the site; gas leak continues.
• Overnight: Expressway remains closed; commuters wait in vehicles with no basic facilities.
• Wednesday, 12:00 PM: Oil company and chemical specialists begin transferring gas to another tanker.
• 6:00 PM: Decontamination process intensifies.
• 10:30 PM: Propylene successfully transferred to a safe tanker.
• 11:30 PM: Cooling and crane removal operations begin.
• 1:46 AM: Traffic flow gradually restored on the expressway.

The incident highlights both the dangers posed by hazardous materials and the vulnerability of commuters on major highways during emergencies.