Mumbai-Pune Expressway jam ends after 33 grueling hours
What's the story
Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was restored early on Thursday, ending a 33-hour-long jam that had left thousands of commuters stranded. The chaos began on Tuesday evening when a gas tanker overturned in the Khandala Ghat section. The highly flammable propylene gas in the tanker prompted authorities to shut down the Mumbai-bound side of the expressway and divert vehicles onto other lanes. The gas tanker was emptied and removed from the accident site near the Adoshi tunnel on Thursday morning.
Recovery process
There were 21 tons of propylene gas
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed that traffic was restored at 1:46am after heavy-duty cranes helped in removing the overturned vehicle. "There were 21 tons of propylene gas which was refilled in another tanker. Once the assurance of safety is given by the gas company teams for the overturned tanker, it will be moved from the site....it will still take some time to normalize the traffic movement on the E-way," Highway Police Superintendent Tanaji Chikhale told HT.
Official response
Inquiry ordered by CM Fadnavis
Thousands of people who were traveling between Mumbai and Pune were stuck on the 90-kilometer-long stretch without access to bathrooms, food, or water. During the peak of the traffic gridlock, queues of stationary vehicles stretched for up to 20km. In light of the massive disruption, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He directed MSRDC officials to submit a report with recommendations for future emergencies.