Year after Gurujam: People recall nightmare on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway

Last July 28, caught in a monster gridlock, caused by incessant rain and waterlogging, many commuters had to sleep in cars or make the long walk home

A year on, the horrors of July 28 is still fresh in the minds of the people. With the gridlock lasting for almost an entire day, many had abandoned their cars on the road and walked for over five kilometers to reach their homes.

The tailbacks on the expressway stretched for miles on July 28, 2016. (Parveen Kumar/HT File)

Richa Vatsala, a senior media professional and resident of Uniworld Gardens on Sohna Road, said, “Even today, when it rains, my heart sinks. I am really not sure how prepared the city is for the monsoon, but last year, it was bad. I had to divert my route and reach my parent’s house to ensure my son ate and slept. Else, the entire night, we would have had to stay in the car.”

Navin Saini, a resident of South City -1, was stuck for seven hours near Hero Honda Chowk on July 28. “The evening still haunts me. I had spent the whole night in my car with just half a bottle of water, no food and no place to relieve myself. There was no support from the local body. The fear of facing a similar situation this year looms large as nothing has improved since last year. Stretches of the highway and inner roads have been dug up and construction is on in many places.We are at the mercy of God.”

Sandeep Madan a resident of Sujjan Vihar, Sector 43, was returning from office on July 28 when near Kherki Daula, he witnessed a huge jam. “I was hungry and thought of having dinner as it seemed like it was going to be a while before the stretch would clear. I and my colleagues parked the car near the highway and spent two hours at the restaurant thinking the traffic would be clear by then. We were wrong, we had to leave the car and walk all the way home. Now when it rains, I get goose bumps and I try to rush home. That night was the worst one in my life.”

Geeta Verma, a resident of Sector 57, who was stuck for more than three hours on the highway, decided to shift to another city as Gurgaon. “When it rains here, I get scared as I recall that evening. Last Tuesday, I had gone to Noida and, usually, it takes only 1.5 hours to reach home. But that day, it took more than 2.5 hours and I was praying each second to reach home safely. The traffic in the city is never-ending and I am not sure how much the authorities have done to ease the situation.”