Mumbai:
The mad rush of Mumbai residents to get out of town and enjoy the long weekend caused a massive traffic jam on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway today, which lasted well past mid-day.
Among the thousands of commuters stuck was former Union minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, whose convoy was trapped in the jam for over 20 minutes. Police sources said an entire lane had to be cleared to make way for the convoy.
Harassed commuters took to Twitter and Facebook, and soon photos of the jam -- which began just after a toll plaza 90 km from Mumbai and stretched for nearly 8 km -- flooded the social media.
The extended weekend, which starts with the Independence Day on Friday, can spill onto the next week. Many offices in the financial capital are shut for the Parsi New Year and the Dahi Handi festival -- both of which are on Monday.