India, Nov. 6 -- Amid the festive rush, the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) remained blocked for the third consecutive day on Thursday due to a farmers' agitation led by former MP Raju Shetti, who is demanding an advance payment of Rs.4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.

The disruption has affected a nearly 120-km stretch between Nagthane in Satara district and Sangli Phata in Kolhapur district. Several heavy vehicles remained stranded on the highway, while traffic diverted through alternative routes created congestion on bypasses and smaller connecting roads. All commuters travelling towards Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Belagavi have been affected.

"We have been stuck on the highway since last night with our children and elderly fami...