Heavy rain brought traffic across Delhi to a crawl on Thursday, with waterlogging and packed junctions disrupting movement from India Gate and ITO to Mandi House, south Delhi, Model Town and Okhla Phase 1 as the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the capital.
Long queues of cars, buses and three-wheelers were reported on several stretches, while commuters sought intervention from the traffic police as rainfall worsened congestion on already busy roads. The city remained overcast through much of the day, with dark clouds, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds forecast under the IMD alert.
At Mandi House Circle, vehicles were seen packed tightly together. Commuters claimed on social media that traffic personnel were not present to regulate the flow. Near India Gate, one commuter reported that traffic had remained stuck for nearly 30 minutes.
Congestion was also reported on the Vikas Marg-ITO stretch and on roads linking ITO with the Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam. Heavy traffic was seen near the Supreme Court as well, adding pressure to a network of roads serving central Delhi’s administrative and commercial areas.
In south Delhi, vehicles queued from the Chirag Delhi red light towards IIT Delhi and Hauz Khas. Commuters also reported heavy traffic near the Ashram flyover exit towards Sarai Kale Khan and Sunlight Colony. Around Okhla Phase 1, congestion was allegedly worsened by encroachments and construction materials stored on footpaths, according to the report.
Waterlogging was reported near Mandi House and Geeta Colony, while traffic snarls were also seen around Palam and AIIMS. In Model Town, waterlogging coincided with end-of-school-hour traffic, worsening delays for commuters and school vehicles.
The traffic police responded to at least one complaint by saying that the matter had been forwarded to the concerned traffic circle for action. The IMD’s red alert covers moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in Delhi, keeping the possibility of further disruption active as traffic authorities respond to affected stretches.
