India, March 1 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday admitted that the response to the gas tanker accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on February 3 was inadequate and announced a series of corrective steps, including framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) and examining the feasibility of airlifting damaged tankers in emergencies.

The disruption began when a tanker carrying propylene- a highly inflammable gas - overturned on the Khopoli stretch of the expressway. Safety protocols were activated immediately, resulting in a complete halt of traffic. The closure lasted more than 33 hours, with vehicle queues stretching nearly 20 kilometres by the following evening. Thousands of commuters were stranded without adequate food...