Gurugram: Traffic jams, waterlogging bring city to a standstill; schools shut

GURGAON: Hundreds of commuters, including women and children, were stuck on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway for many hours after heavy rain left the Hero Honda Chowk here inundated. There was a massive traffic jam as all kinds of vehicles -- cars, two-wheelers, buses and other modes of public transport -- remained stuck for six to seven hours, especially on the Delhi-Jaipur stretch. The Badshahpur drain, which carries stormwater, breached, leading to several feet of waterlogging in the area. Several people, oblivious of the lurking danger at several inundated places, fell into ditches but were saved due to timely help from other onlookers. People stuck at the spot lamented that no official, particularly those connected with disaster management, were available to alleviate their miseries. They said they had been left to fend for themselves by the government. "@mlkhattar sir for more than 4 hrs we r in jam to pass just 2 km at sohna rd near Subhas chk Gurgaon. This is not good for happening haryana," tweeted a commuter, Satya Prakash Gupta. "Total failure of administration in GURGAON, hero Honda chowk standstill from last 3 hrs," tweeted another commuter, Pradip Agarwal. However, Gurgaon Police Commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk said the entire traffic and district police force was on roads to help commuters. "Waterlogging on several roads in Gurgaon has led to a gridlock in parts of the city. Entire traffic police is on road trying to do the best," tweeted Gurgaon Police. Over four feet deep water was witnessed inundating some places near the expressway. Earlier report said the excessive flooding was caused by overflowing of the Badshahpur drain due to the downpour that began around 4.30 p.m. Kanwarias (Lord Shiva's devotees bringing Gangajal from Uttarakhand), vehicles of NSG commandos, Central and state officials were also stuck in the rainwater under which the expressway and other arterial roads disappeared. Traffic was disrupted at the Hero Honda, Jharsa, Iffco and Shankar chowks (intersections).