Nightmare jams harass commuters

A man pulls his autorickshaw through a waterlogged street in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

Waterlogging and potholes caused by a fresh spell of rain made travel difficult for motorists in national capital on Friday. Thousands of office-goers and other commuters remained stuck for hours in massive traffic jams throughout the day due to water-logging caused by incessant rainfall.

Morning showers slowed down traffic on the arterial roads of the city. Waterlogging on roads and underpasses resulted in massive jams on several stretches, holding up commuters.

Heavy traffic was reported on Ring Road (both carriageways) from AIIMS to Moti Bagh during peak hours due to rains coupled with potholes. Traffic was heavy from Karol Bagh Metro station to Pusa Road, I.P. Flyover to Sarai Kale Khan, Bhajan Pura to Khajuri, to Dwarka Link Road, Wazirabad Road, Apsara roundabout, , Rajokri flyover, Metro station to Mundka Metro station till late Friday afternoon due to waterlogging.

As heavy rains lashed the capital, traffic was thrown out of gear with vehicles moving at snail’s pace on waterlogged stretches, troubling office-goers and other commuters.

Rains in the second half of the day caused waterlogging at many other places such as Pamposh Enclave, under flyover, flyover and Mill flyover. Slow moving traffic was reported at ITO and Azad Market Chowk. Vehicle breakdowns were reported from several areas.

Rains coupled with movement of Kanwariyas in and around Delhi borders brought city traffic to a standstill.

The traffic snarl on roads leading to Gurgaon following heavy rain on Thursday evening continued with the warning commuters to avoid NH-8 on Friday morning. “There is traffic jam on NH-8 near Hero Chowk, Gurgaon. Motorists going from Delhi to Gurgaon are advised to avoid NH-8,” Delhi traffic police said in a tweet.

People were seen helplessly waiting in jams to reach their destinations. “Traffic came to a standstill and I was trapped in the jam till almost noon,” said Bharti Raturi, a BPO executive who got stuck at Dhuala Kaun.