Landslide Shuts Down Mumbai-Goa Highway for 12 Hours
Navi Mumbai, 10th June 2024: The Goa-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Goa highway was closed for over 12 hours following a massive landslide on Saturday evening. Loose earth and boulders, dislodged by rain, fell from a hill, blocking the highway at Nadgaon village in Mahad taluka, Raigad.
The highway traffic was restored by 8 a.m. on Sunday. During the closure, a long queue of vehicles, stretching several kilometers towards Mumbai, formed on the highway.
The landslide occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday amid heavy rain. Many vehicles heading towards Goa for the weekend, with travelers either visiting their native places or tourist spots, were caught in the disruption. The sudden landslide shocked motorists and caused significant travel delays.
A viral video of the landslide, shot and posted by a motorist, has been circulating on social media. The footage shows four-wheelers, trucks, chemical tankers, two-wheelers, and other vehicles abruptly stopping on the highway. Despite the scare, no vehicles were hit by the landslide, and there were no reported injuries. Locals have raised concerns that netting and bolting of the hill for motorist safety have not yet been implemented.
Highway traffic constable Mandar Lahane said, “The traffic was diverted to the Mumbai-bound carriageway from the Goa-bound carriageway. The debris was cleared on Sunday morning.”
The incident highlights the need for improved safety measures on the highway to prevent future disruptions and ensure the safety of travelers.
