Traffic in the national capital faced significant disruptions on Friday as intermittent rain and increased footfall in markets for Dhanteras led to congestion, causing inconvenience for commuters. The Delhi Police issued an advisory warning of high traffic volume during Dhanteras and Diwali, urging commuters to opt for public transport. Over the past 24 hours until 8:30 am on Friday, Delhi experienced 6 mm of rainfall, with an additional 2.2 mm between 8:30 am and 11:30 am, according to data from the Safdarjung observatory, the city's primary weather station.
Visuals surfaced on social media showing traffic snarls in Delhi and Gurugram.
Complaints flooded social media platforms like X, with commuters expressing frustration over the traffic snarls. One user reported a massive jam from the Gurgaon border to Mahipalpur, with an ambulance stuck in the gridlock. Other users mentioned congestion at the Mangolpuri underpass to Udyog Nagar Metro Station, near Rani Bagh main market, Kalyanpuri Bridge, Dwarka flyover, and on Ashram Flyover. Vikas Marg witnessed disruption due to a tree uprooting in the carriageway from ITO towards Laxmi Nagar, as reported by traffic police on X. The tree was subsequently cleared.
In preparation for the festivals of Dhanteras and Diwali on Friday and Sunday respectively, an advisory was issued. Anticipating high traffic around shopping malls and busy market areas, including Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Central Market Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, Greater Kailash, Tilak Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Kamla Nagar, and Rajouri Garden, the advisory urged the public to use public transport, carpooling, and social media services of Delhi Traffic Police for a smoother travel experience. Motorists were advised to park vehicles in authorized lots to prevent road congestion.