Five-hour traffic jam after two trucks collide head-on in Ajanta Ghat

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A head-on collision between two trucks occurred at a dangerous turn (bend) in Ajanta Ghat on the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Jalgaon highway at around 11 am on Wednesday. While one of the vehicles was attempting to overtake. Both truck drivers sustained minor injuries. Due to the accident, traffic on both sides was disrupted for nearly five hours, resulting in long queues of vehicles. Traffic was restored around 2.30 pm.

On Wednesday morning, two trucks travelling in opposite directions, one from Chalisgaon to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and the other from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Chalisgaon, collided head-on in Ajanta Ghat. The injured drivers were given first aid at the Ajanta Rural Hospital and later admitted to sub-district hospital in Sillod. As the two trucks came to a halt at a sharp curve, traffic congestion built up across the ghat section. For nearly five hours, traffic remained at a standstill, leaving tourists, commuters and even ambulances stranded.

Police personnel from Ajanta police station, including assistant police sub-inspector Amol Dhakane, head constable Baban Jadhav, Ram Aade and Dilip Tadvi, cleared the vehicles from the road and restored traffic flow.

Tourists disappointed

Tourists visiting the world famous Ajanta Caves were caught in the traffic jam from early Wednesday morning. Among them were Balaswamy from Kerala and his companions, who even attempted to assist in clearing the congestion. However, due to the long lines of vehicles, it took five hours for traffic to ease. As a result, tourists were left with very little time to visit the caves and expressed their disappointment.

Traffic jams two to three times a week

Frequent accidents and vehicle breakdowns caused by the narrow road in Ajanta Ghat lead to traffic jams two to three times a week. The union Minister of State Raksha Khadse has also been stuck in traffic jams here on three occasions. Despite this, the administration has not taken any concrete measures such as deploying dedicated police personnel to manage congestion or widening the ghat road, triggering anger among commuters and tourists.