Mumbai Traffic: Sonali Kulkarni Stuck for 5 Hours on Mankhurd Bridge, Calls Situation 'Extremely Scary'

Actress Sonali Kulkarni, widely recognised for her role in Dil Chahta Hai, went through a distressing situation on Wednesday night after getting stuck in a massive traffic jam for more than five continuous hours. The incident occurred while she was travelling from Mumbai to Pune and found herself stranded on the Mankhurd bridge. Sharing her ordeal on social media, the actress described the situation as deeply frightening and unsettling. She even recorded a video after stepping out of her vehicle, showing the long line of vehicles stretching endlessly around her. Despite waiting for hours, there was no clear indication from authorities about when the congestion would be cleared.

In the video, Sonali Kulkarni explained that she had been stuck at the same spot for exactly five hours, with vehicles piling up both ahead and behind her. She mentioned that attempts were made to contact the traffic control authorities, but they only advised commuters to remain patient without offering any definite timeline. Expressing her helplessness, she added that the gridlock was so severe that neither forward movement nor turning back was possible. Appealing for assistance, she urged police officials to provide updates if they had any information. She also spoke about the growing discomfort, saying the situation had gone beyond basic needs, making it an extremely alarming experience.

Also Read: Mumbai Tragedy: Police Constable Killed After Drilling Machine Falls on Him at MMRDA Flyover Construction Site in Mankhurd

A major traffic gridlock paralysed Mumbai’s vital Sion–Panvel Highway for several hours after a construction machine collapsed in the Mankhurd area late Tuesday night, sparking widespread anger over infrastructure safety and traffic handling. The situation worsened on Wednesday, when the usually quick 12 to 15-minute commute between Chembur and Mankhurd turned into a draining journey lasting five to six hours. Hundreds of commuters were left stranded in severe congestion, with vehicles stuck bumper-to-bumper and no movement in either direction. The disruption began when a heavy excavation machine, deployed for flyover work, reportedly lost balance and toppled onto the road around 11 pm, possibly due to uneven ground conditions, blocking the crucial link between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The incident also led to a tragic casualty. Police constable Santosh Gopal Chavan (46), who was posted at Nehru Nagar police station, sustained critical injuries when the collapsing machine struck him as he was riding home on his motorcycle. He was immediately rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin.

On the professional front, Sonali Kulkarni began her journey in Hindi cinema with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, where she starred alongside Saif Ali Khan. Over the years, she has established herself as a versatile performer in both Hindi and Marathi film industries. She is known for delivering impactful performances in critically acclaimed Marathi films such as Deool, Natrang, and Doghi, along with notable Hindi projects like Taxi No. 9211 and Singham. Most recently, she appeared in the web series The Trial 2. Looking ahead, she is set to feature in Nani’s upcoming film The Paradise, directed by Srikanth Odela and co-starring Raghav Juyal, along with two Marathi films and Madhur Bhandarkar’s The Wives.