National Desk – A combination of heavy rainfall and the ongoing Kanwar Yatra brought traffic to a standstill across large parts of Delhi on Tuesday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours. The downpour during the morning hours submerged major roads, while a large influx of kanwariyas (pilgrims) walking barefoot on the streets caused additional disruptions on already choked routes.
Several key arteries of the capital, including ITO, Old Rohtak Road, the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway (NH-8), Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Mehrauli-Gurugram Road, the stretch from Peeragarhi to ISBT, Madhuban Chowk, Delhi-Ghaziabad Road, and National Highway-9, witnessed prolonged traffic snarls that lasted well into the afternoon.
The situation was further aggravated by poor road conditions. Freshly laid asphalt on many roads began to peel off due to the heavy rain, creating potholes and worsening traffic flow. Reports from the ground indicated that commuters had to endure sluggish movement or complete standstills, especially in areas where both waterlogging and kanwariya processions intersected.
Southern Delhi witnessed severe congestion around vital locations such as AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, and Ashram Chowk. The Mehrauli-Badarpur stretch emerged as one of the worst-affected routes, with traffic remaining paralyzed for most of the day. A large number of kanwariyas were seen walking through flooded and muddy roads, adding to the already complex traffic situation.
Additional pressure came from the temporary kanwar camps set up along key roadways, particularly in areas such as Nangloi-Najafgarh and near Anand Vihar. These camps, though essential for providing shelter and rest to the pilgrims, further constricted road space and brought traffic to a complete halt in some places.
In an effort to facilitate the religious procession, traffic police diverted vehicles from several roads. However, many commuters complained of a lack of timely updates and real-time route information. The absence of traffic police in critical junctions also led to confusion and chaos, with many drivers unaware of alternative routes or diversions.
One frustrated commuter shared, “I left Delhi for Gurugram at 8 a.m., but I was stuck near the airport for hours. The traffic was just not moving. It took me two hours to cover just 18 kilometers.”
Another user posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “It took me two hours to cover 30 kilometers on the Gurugram-Delhi highway. The situation is completely mismanaged.”
Authorities are facing increasing criticism over the lack of preparedness for predictable monsoon-related waterlogging and the annual Kanwar Yatra. Many are questioning why adequate traffic planning and coordination between civic bodies and police were not ensured despite advance knowledge of the dual challenges.
With more rainfall expected over the next few days and the Kanwar Yatra still ongoing, Delhi’s traffic situation may continue to remain challenging. Officials are urging commuters to check live traffic updates and avoid known choke points if possible.
In the meantime, citizens are relying heavily on social media and navigation apps for real-time updates, with many venting their frustration online about the lack of infrastructure and planning. For now, patience remains the only option for those navigating the capital’s clogged and waterlogged roads.
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