Mumbai-Bengaluru highway shut for 3rd day in a row; 3,000 of vehicles stranded near Kolhapur

PUNE Even as the water level of the Panchaganga river dropped by two feet on Sunday, the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway remained shut for a third consecutive day for traffic. A 500-metre stretch near Shiroli in Kolhapur was still inundated. Police officials said that at least 2,000 trucks and 1,000 private vehicles are stranded on both sides of the road: from Satara to Kolhapur and from Belgavi to Kolhapur.

Many have sought shelter in hotels nearby, while private organisations, including some NGOs, have been helping drivers and travellers with food and other necessary items.

“We are here since Friday and there’s no sign of when the water will recede and traffic will resume,” said Sriprakash Singh, carrying steel frames in his truck to Bengaluru.