Chaos on the Highway: 500 Students Stranded for 12 Hours in Maharashtra Traffic Jam

A severe traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway in Maharashtra stranded over 500 students for nearly 12 hours. The children, returning from a school picnic, were left without food and water. The congestion resulted from heavy vehicle diversions, prompting public outcry for better traffic management.

A significant traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district left over 500 students and commuters stranded for nearly 12 hours, according to officials.

Twelve buses, carrying students from various schools, were stuck in a massive gridlock from around 5:30 pm Tuesday, stretching several kilometers near Vasai until early Wednesday morning. The children were without food or water for several hours, causing considerable distress.

The heavy congestion was reportedly caused by heavy vehicle diversions due to road repair works on the Ghodbunder highway in Thane, leading to increased traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. Local social organizations intervened to provide basic necessities to the stranded students, while parents criticized the authorities for the lack of planning and demanded immediate improvements in traffic management.

(With inputs from agencies.)