Mumbai-Pune Highway News: Fire And Traffic Jam Strike On Expressway, Authorities Take Action To Clear Roads

A speeding tanker carrying a chemical caught fire after it overturned on the Mumbai-Pune highway in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Wednesday morning, police said in the Deccan Herald report.

The incident took place at 6:15 am near Patel Nagar, Shilphata, close to the highway exit in Khopoli. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing the tanker to overturn. Since the tanker was transporting an inflammable chemical, it quickly caught fire, resulting in significant damage to the vehicle. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, according to an official statement.

Photo Credit: PTI

Emergency responders were quick to act. Khopoli police were the first to arrive on the scene, and fire-fighting teams from Tata, Godrej, HPCL, and JSW were also dispatched to control the blaze. The fire was successfully brought under control after several hours of effort. The area was temporarily blocked off to prevent further damage and ensure safety.

While emergency services worked at the site, the incident caused a significant disruption to traffic on the Mumbai-Pune highway. Motorists faced delays for a couple of hours, as the road was partially blocked. Authorities warned drivers to avoid the area and take alternative routes.

In a separate incident, heavy traffic congestion was reported on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, particularly in the Borghat region. Many vehicles were heading towards Mumbai, as tourists left the city for Christmas celebrations. The traffic jam was alleviated after the Raigad Traffic Police took proactive measures. A special hourly block was set to manage the flow, and traffic coming from both the Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Mumbai lanes was diverted to ease congestion.

To further resolve the situation, the highway police stopped traffic from Pune at Khandala Ghat, allowing smooth passage for vehicles. Traffic movement gradually returned to normal, and the jam was cleared successfully.