Eight-hour traffic jams in Delhi suburb as rains wreak havoc

On Monday, Gurugram, a wealthy suburb near Delhi, faced a massive traffic crisis after heavy rains led to hours-long gridlock. Thousands of commuters found themselves stuck on the roads for six to eight hours, unable to move as the rain flooded streets and caused chaos. The incident quickly became a trending topic online, with many people expressing their anger and disappointment at the city's poor infrastructure. Gurugram is famous for its modern skyscrapers and large corporate offices, but the traffic jam showed that the city still struggles with basic problems like drainage and road planning. Disaster management officials advised schools, offices, and colleges to let people work from home on Tuesday, as more rain was expected.

The traffic jam stretched for more than 10 kilometers on one of the main roads, with cars filling up at least a dozen lanes on a key highway. Videos and photos shared on social media showed endless lines of vehicles, and people described the situation as a nightmare. Some joked about sleeping at their offices, while others said they might reach home faster if they walked. Gurugram is part of Haryana state, which is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Many residents questioned why the government has not improved the city's infrastructure, especially since Gurugram is home to the regional headquarters of major companies like Google, Meta, American Express, and Samsung.

The heavy rains have not only affected Gurugram but also other parts of India. In Delhi, the Yamuna river has risen above the danger mark, flooding low-lying areas and forcing authorities to close the Old Railway Bridge. The Chief Minister of Delhi assured residents that the situation is being closely monitored. Across India, the monsoon season has brought severe floods and landslides, with hundreds of people killed in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Kashmir. In Punjab, at least 29 people have died due to flooding, and in Himachal Pradesh, more than 300 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since June. In Uttarakhand, a village was almost completely submerged after a massive flash flood. Officials say that the intensity of the rains this year has been much higher than usual, causing widespread damage and raising questions about how cities and states can better prepare for such disasters in the future.