India, Oct. 15 -- Over 500 students and commuters were stranded in a massive traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Wednesday. Vehicles barely moved for hours due to the congestion, leaving both children and commuters stranded.

A total of 12 buses carrying students from classes 5 to 10 of different schools, as well as some college students from Thane and Mumbai, were stuck in the jam from around 5:30 pm on Tuesday until early Wednesday morning, PTI news agency quoted officials as saying.

The children, who were returning from a school picnic near Virar, reportedly waited several hours without food or water.

By night, many students were tired, hungry and anxious, while concerned parents ...