Waterlogging triggers traffic jams after heavy rainfall in Gurugram

Significant congestion was reported from National Highway 48 (NH-48) towards Delhi and Sohna Road after three hours of heavy rainfall in the city

Published on: Aug 8, 2024, 09:34:57 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Three hours of heavy rainfall in Gurugram on Thursday morning led to waterlogging and traffic jams, especially on the Narsinghpur stretch of the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, Basai and Golf Course Extension Road. Significant congestion was reported from National Highway 48 (NH-48) towards Delhi and Sohna Road.

Residents said children in colonies connected to NH-48 near Narsinghpur were unable to go to schools. (Parveen Kumar/ HT Photo)

Traffic on NH-48 between Kherki Daula and Rajeev Chowk came to a virtual halt as knee-deep water accumulated in the area. The situation was expected to worsen after the rush hour as the city received 23mm of rainfall in the 3-hour period.

Residents said children in colonies connected to NH-48 near Narsinghpur were unable to go to schools as most roads in the low-lying area were inundated, making it impossible for school buses to pick them up.

Anjali Yadav, a class 10 student from Khandsa, said that the problem has persisted, and the authorities have found no permanent solution. “Our studies suffer every monsoon as there is no way we can reach the school bus stand,” she said.

Rakesh Yaduvanshi, another resident, said even a five-minute shower floods the entire area. “I could not go to the office and opted to work from home since it is difficult to cross the stretch and would need a boat to reach the main road.”

Commuters reported delays and traffic jams as vehicles struggled to navigate the flooded service lane. Three vehicles broke down in the service lane, exacerbating the congestion. “I have been stuck here for over 45 minutes. It is impossible to get through this water. My car stalled in the middle of the road, and now I am waiting for help,” said Priya Malhotra, a daily commuter.

Another office-goer Vikram Singh said the waterlogging was causing immense trouble for everyone. “I left home early to avoid traffic, but now I am stuck and will be late for an important meeting. What is the point of the authorities’ tall claims?”

Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) officials said at least five water pumps have been installed at Narsinghpur. “Our team is on the ground to quickly respond to waterlogging concerns. Pumps have been deployed at hot spots such as Narsinghpur, Khandsa Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, and Sector 67 to pump out accumulated stormwater. Personnel are engaged to clear road gullies and remove blockages from water chutes and drains,” said an official.

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram commissioner Narhari Singh Bangar said efforts were being made to clear the water and improve drainage in the affected areas. “Over 50 people are deployed at different locations to address the waterlogging.”

Traffic Police were deployed to manage the situation and ensure the safety of commuters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More