After directives from Dy CM Sunetra Pawar: NCP workers provide food packets, water bottles to stranded travellers

“We faced all kinds of difficulties in extending help to stranded travellers. After we received directives from the Deputy Chief Minister’s office on Wednesday, we had to first arrange for food packets. We went all over Pimpri-Chinchwad to get the food packets, packed them neatly and then proceeded. We had one four-wheeler and several two-wheelers,” said Seema Sawale, a former corporator. Sawale is the former chairperson of PCMC standing committee.

“The expressway was blocked. So from Bor ghat police chowky area, we got on to the Pune-Mumbai highway… From Jambhulgaon, Khadkale, Kane, we went close to Lonavala. We had to leave our four-wheeler behind in Kanhe area and then after travelling through the inner parts of Talegaon, we made it to Wadgaon.”

Another NCP leader Sarang Kamtekar said they had to walk for four-five km, holding food packets and drinking water bottles in their hands. “We walked four-five kilometres, we rode two-wheelers through the wrong side. There was sheer traffic madness.”

Once they reached in the vicinity of Lonavala, the NCP workers spotted fatigued stranded travellers. “Several of them were women. Some were in private vehicles, many were in buses. They looked tired and were without water and food. Women especially had a problem going to the toilet. And during the night, it was impossible for them to get out of their vehicles. Men were seen sitting outside, looking tired, restless and fatigued,'” said Sawale.

It took them nearly five hours to complete their mission and return home. “While returning home, we again got stuck as there was another traffic jam caused by a tanker being hit by a trailer. The accident took place just 10 minutes before we reached. The tanker was full of petrol. A major accident was averted or else, it would have further compounded the situation,” said Kamtekar.