Stuck on Mumbai’s Ghodbunder Road, father struggles to take 2-year-old to doctor

Mumbai city news: According to commuters, lack of communication from authorities coupled with no help for senior citizens or child have made matters worse.

For Sayed Umer, 29, Monday turned out to be a nightmare he could never imagine.

Umer’s family in the car. (Praful Gangurde)

Around 1pm, Umer headed from his home in Mumbra to take his two-year-old daughter for a ear check-up at a hospital in Bandra.

The family, however, got stuck, as an LPG tanker overturned on the road, leading to parts of the road being shut and traffic being diverted fearing a gas leak

Confined to a car for so long with no food and water, the child got agitated.

Umer, a driver, said, “My daughter has an appointment at a Bandra hospital. As the tanker overturned, the police have been blocking the road. My child is losing patience. Our food and water too got over. We are stuck between two trucks and can’t even turn around.”

Umer was among the thousands stuck on the road since afternoon.

According to commuters, lack of communication from authorities coupled with no help for senior citizens or children have made matters worse.

While a few chose had to walk for miles to get home, some others had to miss their flights or trains.

“The police are not helping. Also, there are very few eateries on the road. Most are taking advantage of the situation by overcharging,” said Umer.

For Kishore Parmar, 28, who left Dombivli in a private travel bus to go to Rajasthan, the traffic jam cost a lot.

“I opened a new shop in Rajasthan and was on my way for the opening scheduled tomorrow. I am stuck for more than four hours. We can’t return as there is no space. I am bound to miss the opening.”

Shailesh Mishra, tweeted his plight, “I walked for more than four kilometers to reach home. There are thousands of people who are stuck, hungry and thirsty. There is utter chaos.”