Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic jam update: What is propylene, the highly flammable gas that can blast if exposed to intense heat?

The traffic on Mumbai-Pune Expressway has continued for more than 12 hours after a gas tanker carrying propylene gas, which is highly flammable, overturned near the Adoshi tunnel. Thousands of commuters were left stranded, leaving passengers without food, water and toilet facilities as the police immediately closed traffic towards Mumbai to prevent any untoward incident. The propylene gas is heavy and flammable and the traffic movement could not be restored and commuters remained stranded, expressing anguish and anger. Soon after the accident, propylene gas was found leaking from the tanker, causing panic among motorists.

What is propylene gas?

Propylene is a building-block chemical base for more complex chemicals. Chemicals created from propylene include propylene oxide, acrylonitrile, cumene and acrylic acid and these chemicals are used in a variety of products such as films, fibers, containers, packaging, and caps and closures.

Propylene is used across various industries such as the petrochemical industry, where it serves as a raw material during production. Many chemicals are produced using propylene. Those chemicals are then used in the manufacture of numerous consumer and industrial products.


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Is propylene gas dangerous?

The simple answer is yes. Propylene is extremely flammable and easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Containers of propylene can rupture if exposed to fire or intense heat for prolonged periods. Fire from propylene may produce irritating and toxic gases.7 If a tank, rail car or tank truck carrying propylene is involved in a fire, the area should be isolated for one mile in all directions, according to a report in Chemical Safety Facts.

"Areas that have had a propylene leak or spill should be isolated for at least 330 feet in all directions. Large spills may require downwind evacuation for at least half a mile," the report stated.

What happened on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway?

-Traffic came to a standstill overnight on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway after a gas tanker carrying propylene gas overturned in the Khandala Ghat section. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded, leading to massive congestion on both carriageways for over 12 hours.

-Passengers, including women and children, remained stuck without access to food, water, or toilet facilities. Highway traffic police urged motorists to avoid the expressway until normal movement is restored.

-The accident occurred around 5 pm on Tuesday near the Adoshi tunnel in Raigad district. The tanker, allegedly speeding, lost control on the slope and overturned.

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-Gas leakage from the tanker caused panic among motorists soon after the incident. The tanker was carrying highly flammable propylene gas, prompting immediate precautionary measures.

-Police closed the Mumbai-bound carriageway and diverted traffic onto the Pune-bound side for nearly 2 km. Continuous gas leakage delayed clearance operations, worsening congestion for Pune-bound vehicles as well.

What commuters said about Mumbai-Pune Expressway traffic

Passengers were stranded for several hours owing to traffic snarl on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and many users took to social media to express their frustration. "People have been stuck and desperately waiting for help. Please do something," wrote X user VyasKarn.

Many motorists voiced their frustration on social media, with some describing the expressway as a "parking lot" and advising others to avoid travel unless necessary. "Mumbai-Pune Expressway is a literal parking lot right now. Traffic crawling for hours near Lonavala and Khandala due to a truck overturn. If you absolutely don't have to travel, don't," wrote X user pranav_72.

The Pune-bound motorists were also inconvenienced due to the traffic snarls. "Started my journey from Andheri West around 7 pm via cab. Will be reaching Pune around 3.40 am. Worst traffic experience I ever had," another X user, Sohit Manik, wrote.

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When will the operation get over?

According to news agency PTI, with highly flammable propylene gas still leaking from the tanker, teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and BPCL have been deployed to handle the situation. Officials said the operation is expected to continue until late evening before normal traffic movement can be restored. The highway traffic police have urged motorists to avoid using the expressway as far as possible until traffic returns to normal.

The Maharashtra Highway Traffic Police have advised motorists to avoid the Mumbai–Pune Expressway until regular traffic movement is restored. A spokesperson of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) told PTI that a 'highly flammable gas' leaked from the tanker after the accident, and all agencies concerned were working at the site on a war footing to contain the situation.

The Mumbai-bound carriageway was closed in the interest of vehicle and commuter safety, leading to traffic congestion on both the Mumbai and Pune-bound lanes of the expressway, the statement added.