An empty gas truck veered off from the Mumbai-Nashik national highway in Maharashtra after suffering a tyre burst and came on the parallel railway tracks on Monday evening, forcing suspension of traffic on the Kasara-Kalyan section which resulted into holding up of some long-distance and suburban trains for almost two hours, officials said.

Fortunately, no train was passing when the incident occurred near Atgaon station, around 95 kms from Mumbai, they said, adding trains on both Up and Down tracks were just a station behind.

Central railway said the incident occurred between Asangaon and Atgaon stations around 7.30 pm.

“A gas tanker truck from the road entered on the tracks between Atgaon-Asangaon section. For safety reasons the Up and Down lines in the north east section have been suspended for traffic from 7.40 pm onwards,” said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, Central railway.

Mr Sutar said the help of the Maharashtra Disaster Control was sought for removal of the gas tanker from the tracks, apart from sending railway’s relief cranes and vehicles to the spot.

“Road cranes and other relief trains/vehicles have been moved to clear the section as soon as possible,” Mr Sutar said.

The tanker was removed from the tracks with the help of cranes.

“Down line traffic (trains going towards Kasara side) resumed at 9.10 pm and Up line at 9.30pm,” Mr Sutar said, adding over half a dozen long distance trains and some suburban locals were detained owing to the incident.

According to railway officials, the gas tanker was empty and hence they did not face much difficulty in removing it from the tracks.