Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
A shortage of gas for auto-rickshaws caused significant traffic delays on Jalna Road on Friday morning, with drivers lining up for two to two-and-a-half kilometres to refuel.
Frustrated by the lack of fuel, rickshaw drivers temporarily brought traffic to a standstill, causing inconvenience to commuters during peak hours. The gas pump remained closed for several hours, forcing drivers to wait for long periods, with some even staying overnight in anticipation of the pump opening.
The pump finally became operational around 9 am. Following this, a massive queue of rickshaws formed as drivers rushed to refuel. Police intervened promptly to manage the situation and ensure traffic began moving again smoothly. Once refuelling resumed, the rickshaws were able to continue their daily operations.
Rickshaw drivers Sachin Sultane, Krishna Thube, Santosh Asole, and Milind Bharsakhle said the gas shortage had caused severe hardship, with many going hungry while waiting overnight for fuel. They added that timely action by the authorities could have prevented the disruption.
Local photos show the long queues of rickshaws near Heenanagar from around 5.30 am, highlighting the scale of the disruption caused by the gas shortage.