2 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 4, 2026 11:07 am
Traffic jams of up to 12 kilometers formed on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway after a tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas overturned in the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district on Tuesday afternoon, causing a major gas leak.
The incident forced authorities to divert traffic on both highways (Expressway and Old Highway) between the two metropolitan cities as efforts to control the leak were still going on, even more than 15 hours after the accident.
The State Highway Police, in an advisory issued on Wednesday morning, advised commuters to completely avoid the Lonavala-Khandala ghat stretch.
The accident took place around 7 p.m. near the Adoshi tunnel in the Pune–Bombay Expressway, and some time later a gas leak was detected in a damaged part of the tanker.
A team from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has also been deployed to help control the situation and manage the hazardous material, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
“Due to a major gas tanker accident and an ongoing leak near Adoshi Tunnel, traffic on both the expressway and old expressway (NH-48) between Pune and Mumbai is severely affected. Authorities have implemented safety stops,” the highway police stated.
The advisory adds, “Recommended alternative routes are: 1. Tamhini Ghat Route: South Mumbai / Navi Mumbai – Pune → Paud → Tamhini Ghat → Mangaon → Indapur → Mumbai. 2. Malshej Ghat Route: Thane / Kalyan / Suburbs – Pune → Chakan → Narayangaon → Malshej Ghat → Murbad → Kalyan → Mumbai. 3. Bhimashankar / Manchar: North Mumbai / Palghar – Pune → Manchar → Junnar → Malshej stretch.”
Story continues below this ad.
The advisory also urges motorists to ensure their vehicles have a full tank of fuel and carry enough water and food while using the alternative routes through Tamhini or Malshej, as they would add 3 to 5 hours to their journey.
All heavy vehicles have also been asked to park in the nearest available parking lots or in shopping centers until the gas leak is neutralized.
“Use railways: If your travel is not by private vehicle, the Intercity Express, Deccan Queen or Sinhagad Express are the only unaffected modes of transport between the two cities at present,” the advisory said.