500 School and College Students Endure 12-Hour Ordeal in Palghar Highway Jam
Massive jam leaves kids stranded for 12 hours.
A chaotic traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway in Palghar, Maharashtra, stranded over 500 students and commuters for nearly 12 hours, from Tuesday evening, October 14, 2025, to early Wednesday morning, October 15, 2025. The gridlock, stretching several kilometers near Vasai, trapped twelve buses carrying students from Classes 5 to 10, along with college students from Thane and Mumbai, returning from a school picnic near Virar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Vasai, Poornima Chowgule-Shringi, reported that the congestion persisted into Wednesday, with efforts ongoing to clear the roads. The jam began around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, halting vehicles to a crawl. Students endured hours without food or water, leaving them exhausted and anxious. Parents, unable to reach their children, expressed growing concern as updates were scarce.
Local activists from a social organization intervened, distributing water and biscuits to the stranded children and assisting drivers in navigating the congested lanes. "It was distressing to see kids crying from hunger and fatigue due to poor traffic management," one activist remarked. The jam was triggered by heavy vehicle diversions from the Ghodbunder highway in Thane, where repair work overloaded the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, according to sources.
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The Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police control room confirmed the severity of the congestion, noting slow progress in clearing it. Some buses took detours, while others inched through, with the last reaching their destinations by 6 am Wednesday. Parents and locals criticized the authorities for inadequate planning and coordination. "Our kids were abandoned for hours with no police or system in place," a parent stated.
Data from the Maharashtra Traffic Department indicates that Palghar district highways have seen a 20% rise in traffic incidents due to infrastructure work in 2025. Residents are urging immediate measures, including better traffic diversion plans and real-time updates during road repairs. The Palghar administration has promised a review of traffic protocols to prevent future disruptions, with a report expected within two weeks.
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