Crash, fuel tank burst hit traffic

Traffic was thrown out of gear in the south and eastern parts of the city on Friday afternoon, after a cement mixer turned turtle in Kanjurmarg and the fuel tank of a BEST bus burst on JJ Flyover.

For more than six hours, traffic headed towards the Eastern Express Highway and heading to South Mumbai was crawling.

BB Gaikwad, senior police inspector of the Ghatkopar traffic chowky, said the driver of the cement mixer lost control of the vehicle after an autorickshaw brushed past it, following which it overturned and the cement it was carrying spread onto the flyover.

The mixer, which was carrying 20 to 25 tonnes of cement, was heading towards the Eastern Express Highway from Powai. Traffic police officers said the flyover was closed because the cement had spread onto the road. Two cranes were at work to clear the road.

"Although traffic snarls were reported, we managed to open the flyover for traffic by 6.30 pm," said Gaikwad. An hour before the cement mixer turned turtle, the JJ Flyover had to be closed for traffic after the fuel tank of a BEST bus burst.

SM Shejwal, senior police inspector of the Pydhonie traffic chowky, said that the incident occurred around 11.15 am on Friday, following which the police closed the flyover for one-and-a-half hours.

According to the Pydhonie traffic chowky officers, the bus was travelling from CST towards JJ Hospital, when the diesel spilled onto the flyover. Owing to the spill, traffic had to be diverted through Mohammed Ali Road, leading long traffic snarls.

On Wednesday, a concrete mixer had overturned at Jogeshwari (East) leading to major traffic snarls on the Western Express Highway.

ALSO READ

In a first, BMC to survey children under 14

Teen raped at birthday party, sold to man

Alleged bomb planter Siddiqui claims ATS threatened to kill him

Cops pin hopes on CCTV footage to arrest acid attack accused