Gurgaon traffic nightmare: Thousands of people stranded on NH-8

Gurgaon

Many motorists abandoned their vehicles and waded through knee-deep water which accumulated on both the carriageways of Delhi-Jaipur road, including Hero Honda Chowk, bringing traffic to a standstill with the tailback extending up to 15-20 kilometers.

The chaos had started yesterday itself after heavy rains, led to waterlogging near Hero Honda Chowk from 4 PM as the main drain overflowed. The NH-8, which is the main carriageway from Delhi to Jaipur, was choked with hundreds of trucks unable to move and the situation worsened as morning commuters too came on the road.

Gurgaon's central Hero Honda Chowk remained inundated. An underconstruction underpass and flyover near the Chowk led to a diversion at the spot which further slowed the traffic, while the drainage system has failed.

Gurgaon Police has issued an advisory asking people coming to Gurgaon from Delhi to avoid travelling.

"People coming to Gurgaon from Delhi are advised to stay back today to avoid being stuck in traffic jams due to flooding on roads," it said on Twitter.

Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon, T L Satyaprakash, today declared a two-day holiday in Gurgaon schools. Some MNCs also declared a day off in Gurgaon as their vehicles which pick and drop employees were stranded in traffic.

Haryana Government called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation as it came under attack from Opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party.

"As BJP passes the buck, Gurgaon chokes. Wht an awful ordeal 4commuters esp ambulances tht may have been stuck for hrs!," Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the Maohar Lal Khattar government of ignoring basic infrastructure in Gurgaon.

"This type of situation has never happened in the millennium city. We warned the Khattar government after the first rains. They cannot say the Congress was in power.

"Now, we are no longer in power... BJP has an MP, all MLAs and corporations are of BJP. The state and central governments are of BJP. What have you done in the law 24 months?" he asked, adding the BJP government has increased the floor area for buildings without ensuring proper electricity, water, sewage facilities and roads.

The heavy evening downpour on Thursday left commuters stranded - many without fuel and water - on their way back home from Gurgaon till well past midnight.

"In the last 17 hours, people have been waiting on the road, they have been sleeping on top of vehicles, some abandoned their vehicles and returned home," Surjewala said, and insisted that party was not poulticing the issue.

Meanwhile, Gurgaon police said it will take sometime to clear the highway.

"District authorities and our team were trying our best," it said.

The traffic jams affected both flyovers and service lanes in Gurgaon as well as Rajeev Chowk, Sohna Road, Signature tower, Old Gurgaon, Khirki Daula toll plaza and Manesar from Jaipur to Gurgaon side.

The Badshahpur Drain was overflowing on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway which led to the water logging.

Some of the stranded commuters raised slogan's against Gurgaon Police and Municipal Corporation.