Daijiworld Media Network - Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aug 30: A gas leak from a GAIL pipeline near Takliwadi in Gangapur taluka of Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district triggered a traffic diversion on a 24-km stretch of the Samruddhi Expressway on Saturday evening as a precautionary measure.
The leak was reported at around 5 pm on August 29 from a section of the pipeline located alongside the expressway. Following the incident, the district administration immediately initiated precautionary measures and alerted GAIL officials.
Fire-fighting equipment was also kept on standby near the site as a safety precaution. GAIL experts shut valves on both sides of the affected section of the pipeline, allowing the pressure inside the line to gradually reduce.
As a safety measure, traffic between chainage 447 and 470 of the Samruddhi Expressway, covering the stretch between Hadas Pimpalgaon and Maliwada, was diverted to the Dhule-Solapur Highway.
Vehicles travelling towards Mumbai were directed to exit the Samruddhi Expressway at the Hadas Pimpalgaon interchange, take the Dhule-Solapur Highway and re-enter the expressway at Maliwada.
Similarly, vehicles heading towards Nagpur were asked to exit at the Maliwada interchange, use the Dhule-Solapur Highway and re-enter the Samruddhi Expressway at Hadas Pimpalgaon.
District Collector Vinay Gowda G C said the administration immediately contacted GAIL after receiving information about the leak and that officials were taking all necessary precautions.
Senior officials from the district administration and police were monitoring the situation, while GAIL personnel worked to reduce the pressure in the affected pipeline section and address the leak.
The traffic diversion was imposed to ensure the safety of motorists while the situation was being assessed and brought under control. Authorities said normal traffic movement would be restored once the affected stretch was declared safe.
Traffic on the Hadas Pimpalgaon-Maliwada stretch was resumed at around 4 am on Sunday, August 30, according to district officials.
The incident did not result in any reported casualties, and authorities continued to monitor the area as a precaution.