Mumbai: A massive traffic disruption hit Thane on Friday morning after a serious multi-vehicle accident near Gaimukh Ghat brought movement on Ghodbunder Road to a grinding halt. The incident occurred around 7 am on National Highway 48, one of the busiest routes connecting Thane with Mira Road, Mumbai’s western suburbs and Gujarat.
According to preliminary information, several vehicles were involved in a pile-up at a sharp bend along the ghat stretch. The collision reportedly happened within seconds, as vehicles moving at speed failed to brake in time, resulting in a chain reaction crash. Images from the site showed heavily damaged cars, with twisted metal and shattered parts scattered across the roadway.
The accident immediately led to heavy congestion, with long queues forming on both sides of Ghodbunder Road. Traffic heading towards Mira Road and the Gujarat corridor was worst affected, leaving office-goers and daily commuters stranded during peak hours. Many motorists reported being stuck for over an hour as vehicles crawled through the affected stretch.
Rescue and emergency teams were rushed to the scene soon after the crash was reported. The Regional Disaster Management Cell, Fire Brigade and traffic police jointly carried out rescue and clearance operations. Damaged vehicles were moved aside using cranes, while police personnel diverted traffic to ease pressure on the highway.
Despite the intensity of the collision, officials confirmed that there were no deaths in the accident. A few individuals sustained minor injuries and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Authorities said the situation could have been far worse given the condition of the vehicles involved.
While the exact reason behind the accident is still under investigation, early indications point towards factors such as speeding, low visibility in the early morning hours, or miscalculation at the ghat curve. Officials have said a detailed probe will determine the precise cause.
Commuters were advised to avoid the Gaimukh Ghat stretch and use alternate routes until traffic normalised.
