Frustrated commuters took to social media to vent their anger after massive traffic snarls brought the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to a virtual standstill. The congestion, which began early on Thursday morning, stretched for nearly 8-9 km, forcing thousands of travellers to remain stuck for hours.

The traffic chaos coincided with Christmas Day celebrations and a series of consecutive holidays, prompting a surge of tourists heading towards popular hill stations such as Lonavla and Khandala. The sudden spike in vehicular movement overwhelmed the expressway, particularly in the ghat sections.