Traffic chaos on Mumbai-Pune Expressway after tanker overturns; passengers stuck for hours

Traffic was paralyzed overnight on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after a gas tanker overturned on the Khandala Ghat section, stranding hundreds of vehicles and causing major congestion on both major roads, officials said on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).

Due to traffic chaos that lasted for more than 12 hours, vehicles remained stationary near the accident scene for hours, and passengers, including women and children, were deprived of food, water and toilets.

Road traffic police have warned drivers to avoid traveling on the highway as much as possible until normal traffic flow is restored.

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The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is India’s first 6-lane wide concrete access-controlled toll highway. It covers a distance of 94.5 km connecting Mumbai, Raigad and Navi Mumbai to Pune.

According to the highway control room, the gas tanker overturned on the highway at around 17:00 on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

The incident took place near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district, when the tanker, which was allegedly traveling at high speed, lost control and overturned due to the slope. An official said that gas leaking from the tanker was detected immediately after the accident, causing panic among drivers.

The tanker was carrying propylene gas, which is highly flammable. As a precautionary measure, the police immediately closed traffic to Mumbai to prevent any untoward incident.

Due to the accident, Mumbai-bound traffic was diverted to the Pune-bound highway for about 2 kilometres.

However, an official from the highway control room said that normal movement could not be ensured due to constant gas leakage from the tanker, resulting in long queues and heavy traffic even for Pune-bound motorists.

The impact was severe on drivers, while some passengers were stranded for hours.

“People are stuck and desperate for help. Please do something,” wrote X user VyasKarn.

A conductor of a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus told PTI around midnight that their vehicle remained stationary near the accident site for more than six hours, leaving passengers deprived of food, water and toilet facilities.

Many drivers expressed disappointment on social media; some described the highway as a “parking lot” and advised others to avoid traveling unless necessary.

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Drivers going to Pune also had a difficult time due to traffic disruptions.

“I started my journey from Andheri West by taxi around 7 pm. I will reach Pune around 3.40 am. Worst traffic experience I have ever had,” wrote Sohit Manik, another X user.

The Maharashtra Road Traffic Police has advised motorists to stay away from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway until normal traffic flow is restored.

According to a statement from the road traffic police by the spokesperson of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the tanker overturned in the Khandala Ghat section of the Mumbai-bound corridor near the Adoshi tunnel.

It was stated that a highly flammable gas leaked from the tanker after the accident and all relevant institutions worked on a war basis in the region to control the situation.

The statement said that the carriageway to Mumbai was closed for vehicular and commuter safety reasons, leading to traffic congestion on both the Mumbai and Pune-bound lanes of the expressway.