Over 170 Students Stranded For Hours In Thane’s Ghodbunder Road Traffic, Cops Rush To Rescue

Around 170 school children from a Dadar-based school and several Malad-based junior college students were left stranded for nearly six hours on Thane’s Ghodbunder Road on Tuesday evening, after a severe

traffic jam brought vehicles to a standstill.

The students were returning from a picnic at a Palghar resort when they were left stranded for hours at Ghodbunder road due to road repairs, Mid-Day

reported.

As per the report citing bus operators, the children boarded four school buses and left the resort around 5:00 pm. Just half an hour later, the group was caught in a massive gridlock due to ongoing road repairs. The buses remained immobilised until nearly 11:00 pm, with no food, water, or assistance.

Another six buses carrying students from a Malad-based junior college were also caught in the jam.

Parents and drivers said there was no warning about the road closure. As students were stranded without aid, worried parents and school authorities sent several messages on X tagging ministers, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, and local authorities. However, no immediate aid arrived, the report added.

“This shows the sad state of our disaster management system. Roads used to be in good shape 10 years ago. Now they are broken, and corruption has made it worse. These children had no food, no water, and no help,” Anil Garg, President of the School Bus Association, said as quoted by the news outlet.

As the situation worsened, bus operators stepped in with snacks and bottled water, and some students were allowed to access nearby restaurants and a police chowki for restroom use.

Finally, the police stepped in to help and took the students to a nearby hotel. The children were provided with food and shelter before being safely returned home.

The incident has sparked outrage among parents and civic groups, reigniting calls for urgent infrastructure upgrades and a more responsive disaster management system.