Security alert, rain hamper traffic movement

The sudden rain on Saturday evening might have brought relief to the scorched Capital, but coupled with extensive barricading following the terror alert by the union home ministry also ended-up contributing to traffic snarls.

The sudden rain on Saturday evening might have brought relief to the scorched Capital, but coupled with extensive barricading following the terror alert by the union home ministry also ended-up contributing to traffic snarls.

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Commuters were stuck for hours as the attempted to negotiate through the Ring Road and other arterial stretches throughout the city.

"We had to wait for more than half an hour to get from Raj Ghat to the ISBT in Kashmere Gate due to water-logging and the heavy barricading behind the Red Fort," said Sumit Awasthi (26), a businessman and resident of Civil Lines.

Vehicle owners in central and south Delhi faced a similar predicament.

"The BRT was totally clogged after it started raining," said Ritu Dewan (34), a resident of CR Park.

"Due to heavy barricading in the area, it took me even longer to reach home."

Agreed said Rita Gupta (42), a housewife and resident of GK Part I.

"It took me more than half an hour just to exit the CP area because there was a lot of barricading in the market after the terror alert," she said.

Police said traffic snarls were expected on Sunday as well.

"We have been asked to step up security around popular markets and the snarls are unavoidable. Traffic is expected to be smoother tomorrow as it Sunday," said a senior Delhi Traffic police officer on condition of anonymity.