Delhi reels under traffic snarls, Kerry stuck again

Delhi reeled under massive traffic snarls today due to waterlogging caused by heavy rains with motorists stuck on roads for up to five hours in some areas.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was 40 minutes late for an event at the IIT as his convoy waded through waterlogged roads from his hotel, otherwise a 15-minute ride.
On Monday too he and his convoy were stuck in the massive traffic near Satya Marg due to rain-induced waterlogging caused by heavy rains.

Bumper to bumper traffic was witnessed on arterial roads in several parts of the city including Dhuala Kuan, ITO, South Extension, Badarpur-Mehrauli Road, Laxmi Nagar and Janakpuri in the morning hours following heavy rains.

Massive traffic jams also severely affected vehicular movement on road stretches in other areas including IIT Delhi-Munirka, Press Enclave Road, Chirag Delhi to Nehru Place flyover, BRT to Moolchand, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Nehru Place to Zamrudpur, Maharani Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Lado Sarai T-Point, West End Marg near Saket Metro Station and AIIMS Loop.

Long tailbacks were witnessed in and around Gymkhana towards Teen Murti Marg, Bhairon Road towards Mathura Road Roundabout, Gol Dak Khana, Kali Bari Marg, Leela Palace Hotel, Okhla Underpass, Chandni Chowk, Barapullah flyover towards DND, IP Flyover towards Sarai Kale Khan, Panchsheel Marg from Sardar Patel Marg to Shanti Path.
"It took me nearly three hours to drive from Dhaula Kuan to Connaught Place," said Anil Saxena, who is working with a private firm.

Water stagnated mostly in mouths of flyovers, underpasses and low-lying areas, giving commuters a harrowing time.

"PWD deployed 296 portable pumps besides the permanent installation of 529 pumps along with 1,078 workmen and 178 fully-equipped maintenance vans with the required material, tools and plants at strategic locations all over Delhi to deal with the situation," an official said.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken blamed the AAP government and BJP-led MCDs for the waterlogging and alleged that desilting of drains were not finished by the May 15 deadline.

In some places vehicles were stuck on roads and underpasses due to breakdown. A few buses broke down in the flooded Jakhira underpass stranding dozens of passengers who were later taken out as water starting reaching up to the vehicle's seats.

Commuters also had a tough time due to traffic spillover caused by VIP movements on certain roads.

As per Safdarjung observatory reading, the city received 63.1 mm rainfall while the Palam observatory recorded 55.6 mm rains. With MeT department forecasting rains on tomorrow as well, traffic woes are feared to continue.