Heavy rain brought traffic across Delhi to a standstill on Thursday, with waterlogging and overflowing junctions leaving commuters stranded on major roads from India Gate and ITO to south Delhi, Model Town and Palam.
Long queues of cars, buses and three-wheelers were reported at several locations as rain intensified congestion on already busy corridors. Commuters flagged little to no movement on stretches around Mandi House, India Gate, ITO, the Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam.
At Mandi House Circle, visuals showed vehicles packed tightly together, while commuters claimed that traffic personnel were not present to regulate the flow. Traffic near India Gate was reported to have remained stuck for nearly 30 minutes, according to a commuter post cited in the report.
The ITO area saw congestion on the Vikas Marg-ITO stretch and roads connecting ITO with the Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam. Heavy traffic was also reported near the Supreme Court. In south Delhi, vehicles queued from the Chirag Delhi red light towards IIT Delhi and Hauz Khas.
Other affected locations included the Ashram flyover exit towards Sarai Kale Khan and Sunlight Colony, Okhla Phase 1, AIIMS and Palam. Commuters also reported waterlogging near Mandi House and Geeta Colony. In Model Town, congestion during end-of-school hours was worsened by water accumulation on the roads.
At Okhla Phase 1, commuters alleged that encroachments and construction material stored on footpaths had further narrowed available road space and worsened the traffic situation. The report did not indicate whether the encroachments or materials had been removed.
Complaints were posted on social media as motorists sought intervention from the traffic police. In response to one complaint, the traffic police said the matter had been forwarded to the concerned traffic circle for action. The response did not specify the location or the action proposed.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Delhi for moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. Dark clouds remained over the capital through much of the day as rainfall affected road conditions and visibility.
The disruption highlighted the operational pressure on key intersections and corridors during heavy rain, particularly during school dispersal and evening travel periods. Further traffic police action and weather conditions will determine whether congestion eases across the affected routes.
