A massive traffic jam brought the Mumbai–Pune Motorway to a complete standstill after a gas tanker overturned near the Adoshi Tunnel in the Khandala Ghat section. The accident occurred on Tuesday evening, February 3, when a tanker carrying propylene gas met with an accident on the busy highway. As a result, traffic movement was severely affected for more than 31 hours. Drone footage later captured the full scale of the disruption. The visuals showed endless lines of vehicles stuck across multiple lanes.

The viral drone video revealed bumper-to-bumper traffic stretching nearly 20 to 30 kilometres at several points. Cars, buses, and heavy trucks were seen standing almost motionless along the hilly terrain. Many commuters reported being stranded for hours, with some forced to spend the night inside their vehicles. Basic necessities such as food, drinking water, and medical help were unavailable for long periods. Several passengers described the situation as exhausting and distressing.

According to officials, traffic towards Mumbai was immediately stopped after the tanker overturned. Vehicles were diverted to the Pune-bound carriageway as a safety measure. However, the continuous leakage of gas from the tanker made it impossible to restore normal traffic flow. Even vehicles heading towards Pune were forced to move at a crawling pace. Police and emergency teams remained on site to prevent any further mishap.

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The tanker was finally removed around 1:30 am on Thursday, February 5, allowing traffic to slowly resume. While movement improved gradually, long queues continued for several hours afterward. State transport buses were delayed, affecting daily commuters. The supply of essentials like milk, vegetables, and other goods to nearby areas was also disrupted. Authorities said safety checks were carried out before fully reopening the stretch.

The incident has once again raised concerns about emergency preparedness on the Mumbai–Pune Motorway. Several social media users questioned the lack of quick-response systems for such major accidents. Industrialist Dr Sudhir Mehta, who was stuck in the jam for nearly eight hours, suggested building emergency exits and helipads along the route. He said better planning could help manage future crises and reduce hardship for commuters on the high-speed corridor.

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