MUMBAI: Heavy rain brought traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway to a crawl after severe waterlogging inundated key stretches in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and triggering hours-long traffic snarls, officials said on Monday.The worst-hit stretch was at Sukeli Ghat near Nagothane, where floodwaters rose to nearly three feet on Sunday, forcing authorities to suspend traffic for several hours as vehicles were unable to pass.The closure resulted in queues of vehicles stretching 8 to 10 km on both sides of the highway. Although traffic resumed on Monday, movement remained slow as relentless rainfall since Saturday night created flood-like conditions along the Nagothane-Wakan stretch.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Raigad district for the next two days, warning of continued heavy rainfall.Police said traffic had to be halted within the limits of Sukeli village due to waterlogging, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. As night fell, anxiety grew among commuters waiting for the road to reopen.Flooding also forced the closure of the Wakan-Pali road. Authorities diverted Pune-bound traffic via Mangaon and Nizampur through Tamhini Ghat, from where vehicles were routed towards Mumbai.The prolonged disruption added to the woes of motorists already dealing with poor road conditions and ongoing construction work on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.Several commuters also reported waterlogging at multiple locations, including Mangaon and Karnala Ghat, blaming inadequate drainage infrastructure for the recurring flooding that has repeatedly disrupted traffic during the monsoon.(With PTI inputs)
