Mumbai–Pune Expressway LIVE Update: Traffic Paralysis Enters 18th Hour; Police Distribute Food and Water as NDRF Battles Propylene Leak
Lonavala | February 4, 2026 – 5:30 PM: The crisis on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has escalated into one of the longest traffic standstills in recent history. As of late Wednesday afternoon, movement remains severely crippled near the Adoshi Tunnel, over 18 hours after a high-speed tanker carrying highly flammable Propylene gas overturned and began a continuous leak.
Current Status: Gas Neutralization Still Underway
Despite working through the night, rescue teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) are still battling to fully neutralize the Propylene gas leak. Propylene is significantly heavier than air and highly explosive; therefore, authorities have maintained a strict “zero-risk” policy, refusing to allow heavy vehicle movement near the tunnel until the area is declared 100% safe.
Highway SP Tanaji Chikhale confirmed that while the leak is being contained using specialized measures, it may take another 2–3 hours to fully secure the tanker before it can be uprighted and removed by heavy-duty cranes.
Update#PuneMumbaiExpressWay#पुणे ते #मुंबई दिशेने जाणाऱ्या रस्त्यावरील वाहतूक अजूनही बंद आहे. आणखी काही तास वाहतूक कोंडी असेल. टॅंकरमधून अजूनही विषारी गॅस गळतीसुरू आहे
— Brijmohan Patil (@brizpatil) February 4, 2026
याबद्दल माहिती देत आहेत तानाजी चिखले, महामार्ग एसपी#pune#Punenews#MumbaiPuneExpressWay pic.twitter.com/u0bJsh0Bnq
The Human Element: Pune Rural Police Step In
With thousands of commuters, including families with infants and the elderly, trapped in their vehicles since Tuesday evening, the situation on the ground had turned desperate. In a significant humanitarian effort, Pune Rural Police personnel have been seen traversing the gridlocked lanes to distribute water bottles, biscuits, and food packets to stranded travelers.
Exclusive footage obtained by PuneNow shows officers navigating between stationary trucks and cars, providing much-needed relief to exhausted passengers who have had no access to restrooms or basic amenities for nearly a day.
👏 A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES: While the gridlock on Mumbai-Pune Expressway crossed 15 hours, Pune Rural Police stepped in to provide much-needed relief.
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) February 4, 2026
Watch as personnel distribute food and water to thousands of passengers, including children and the elderly, stranded near Adoshi… pic.twitter.com/uVbE5BEl8s
Aerial Insights: A “Parking Lot” from the Sky
New aerial images captured by helicopter pilot Nitin Welde reveal the staggering scale of the disaster. From the sky, the Expressway resembles a sprawling, multi-kilometer parking lot. The images show a sea of white and yellow roofs of stationary trucks and buses snaking through the Khandala Ghat, confirming that the backlog now extends well beyond Lonavala toward the Talegaon toll plaza.
🚁 SCARY AERIAL VIEW: Nitin Welde shared these images of the massive gridlock on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway today, taken from a helicopter.
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) February 4, 2026
From the sky, the scale of the "tanker-trauma" near Adoshi Tunnel is clear, miles of vehicles at a complete standstill. Nitin landed at… pic.twitter.com/nsuGbSzSVs
NHAI & Police Advisory: Avoid the Ghat Section
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has officially classified the situation as “critical congestion.”
Latest Travel Recommendations:
- Total Avoidance: Commuters are strongly urged not to use the Expressway until Thursday morning.
- Alternate Routes: 1. Tamhini Ghat: For those traveling from Pune toward Navi Mumbai/South Mumbai. 2. Malshej Ghat: For those heading toward Thane/Kalyan. 3. Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH48): Currently extremely overloaded; use only if absolutely necessary.
- Railway Preference: The Deccan Queen, Intercity Express, and Sinhagad Express remain the only unaffected and reliable modes of transport between the two cities today.
- MSRTC has suspended Pune-Mumbai bus service till the gridlock is cleared.
Accountability Crisis
The incident has triggered a fierce debate on social media regarding the safety of the Bhor Ghat stretch. Commuters are demanding to know why high-speed tankers are allowed to navigate these curves during peak hours and why disaster response took over 12 hours to bring specialized equipment to the site.
PuneNow will continue to bring you live updates as the clearing operation enters its final phase.
For more live updates on Pune, visit our Pune News Today page.
Vineet Gupta is the Founder and Managing Editor of PuneNow, where he oversees local news delivery and explores mindful living, parenting, and personal growth. An alumnus of the University of Wales, Vineet has travelled extensively and worked across hospitality, finance, and academia. Now based in Pune, his diverse global background informs his hyper-local perspective, helping the community find meaning, balance, and connection in everyday life.
