New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- A huge traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway in the Palghar district of Maharashtra left more than 500 students and commuters stranded for nearly twelve hours.

The extensive gridlock, which stretched for several kilometres near Vasai, began at approximately 5.30 pm on Tuesday. It trapped twelve buses carrying students from Classes 5 to 10 of various schools, along with some college students from neighbouring Thane and Mumbai.

The children, who were returning from a school outing near Virar, were forced to remain without food or water for several hours. As the heavy congestion meant vehicles barely inched forward throughout the evening, many students became anxious, hungry, and physically exhausted, w...