Mangaluru: A 144-wheel multi-axle modular trailer got stranded on National Highway 66 near Panambur Beach Road on Sunday evening, bringing traffic to a standstill for nearly two hours and leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The oversized trailer blocked the carriageway while attempting to enter the highway after unloading industrial cargo at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA).
Trailer gets stuck while entering highway
The incident occurred at around 4 pm when the trailer, owned by a private company based in Padubidri, was returning after delivering an export-bound industrial consignment to the New Mangalore Port Authority.
According to available information, the trailer had departed from Padubidri at around 11 pm on Saturday and reached Panambur Port at approximately 4 am on Sunday. After unloading the cargo, it left the port premises around 4 pm and attempted to merge onto National Highway 66 through the Panambur Beach Road junction.
However, another vehicle travelling nearby reportedly forced the trailer’s front section onto the highway divider. The massive vehicle became lodged on the divider while its rear portion remained stretched across the Mangaluru–Suratkal carriageway, completely blocking traffic.
Highway traffic comes to a standstill
Unable to move either forward or backward, the trailer caused severe congestion on one of the busiest stretches of National Highway 66.
Long queues of vehicles quickly formed from Panambur to Kuloor and Kottara, with buses, lorries, private vehicles and two-wheelers remaining stranded.
Motorists and passengers, frustrated by the prolonged delay, stepped onto the road and questioned why such an enormous trailer had been permitted to travel during peak daytime traffic.
Emergency services and travellers affected
The traffic disruption caused significant hardship for commuters travelling towards Mangaluru city.
Passengers heading to Mangaluru International Airport and railway stations experienced considerable delays, while several ambulances were trapped amid the traffic congestion before police facilitated their movement.
Emergency service vehicles, buses and goods carriers also remained stuck for an extended period.
Visitors returning from Panambur Beach, including tourists from other districts and states, were unable to leave the area due to the complete traffic gridlock.
Rescue operation restores traffic
Following the incident, traffic police, highway maintenance personnel and officials from the New Mangalore Port Authority rushed to the location and coordinated efforts to remove the stranded trailer.
Technical personnel and cranes were deployed to clear the obstruction.
Eventually, the trailer’s front engine unit was detached, and the vehicle was pulled backwards using towing equipment from the rear.
The stranded trailer was successfully removed at around 6 pm, nearly two hours after the incident, allowing traffic movement to resume.
To reduce congestion, traffic police temporarily converted the one-way stretch from the Kuloor side into a two-way route until normal traffic flow was restored.
Public demands stricter regulation
The incident has renewed concerns over the movement of oversized cargo vehicles through the busy port corridor in Mangaluru.
Residents and commuters pointed out that National Highway 66 already experiences heavy movement of goods vehicles because of port-related operations.
They urged authorities to introduce stricter safety measures and allow the movement of exceptionally large trailers only during non-peak hours, preferably at night, to minimise inconvenience to the public.
Police to initiate legal action
Commenting on the incident, DCP (Crime and Traffic) Ravishankar K acknowledged the inconvenience caused to motorists due to the stranded trailer near Panambur.
He said traffic police prioritised the movement of ambulances and other emergency vehicles during the congestion.
The officer further stated that legal action would be initiated against the driver of the trailer responsible for causing the traffic disruption on National Highway 66.
Conclusion
The incident highlighted the challenges posed by oversized cargo movement on one of Dakshina Kannada’s busiest highways. While traffic was restored after a coordinated removal operation, commuters have called for stricter regulation and better planning to prevent similar disruptions in the future, particularly on heavily trafficked routes connected to the New Mangalore Port.