New Delhi: Delhi experienced severe traffic congestion on Monday, severely impacting Raksha Bandhan celebrations as residents flocked to markets and family gatherings. The combination of heavy traffic and rain exacerbated the situation, causing delays across key routes in the city.Major traffic hotspotsThe Delhi Police issued alerts about the gridlock affecting major roads. Notably, traffic was notably sluggish at Peeragarhi Chowk, Mangolpuri, and Bhera Enclave Roundabout. Moreover, significant delays were reported on MB Road, particularly from Khanpur to Hamdard Nagar, due to waterlogging. The Ring Road near Najafgarh also faced severe congestion.A resident from Dwarka expressed frustration over the traffic conditions: “It took us double the time to get through the section. The vehicles moved very slowly. The situation was even worse in other areas where we went to visit relatives.”Mandawali underpass road is jammed for 5 hours. Delhi traffic has not taken any action till now even after complaining many times @dtptraffic @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/5S9bWregxe— Rivanshu Sharma (मोदी का परिवार) (@SharmaRivanshu) August 19, 2024Have not moved an inch for the past half hour or so...the entire outer ring road is brimming with traffic. Already have spent 1.30 hr on the road for a 30 min journey. Not a single police person seen anywhere. @LtGovDelhi @dtptraffic @MCD_Delhi @AtishiAAP @INCDelhi pic.twitter.com/zPw7rG3wrN— Piyush Jain (@CA_Piyushj) August 19, 2024Social media was abuzz with complaints from commuters, with reports of severe jams near Welcome Station, Jharoda Police Chowki Burari, and Khanpur Depot. One commuter reported being stuck at the intersection of Arihant Marg and KB Hegdewar Marg in Jahangirpuri for over an hour.Weather impactAdding to the chaos, Delhi-NCR experienced light showers in the evening. While the rain offered some respite from the days oppressive heat, it further complicated traffic conditions. Waterlogging in Noida contributed to the traffic slowdown.Air quality index of DelhiBefore the rain, Delhi endured hot and humid weather with temperatures peaking at 35.6°C and dropping to a low of 27.6°C. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 83, which is within the satisfactory range, though several areas reported AQI levels exceeding 100. Faridabad reported the cleanest air in the region, with an AQI of 62.The meteorological department forecasts light rain for Tuesday, with temperatures expected between 27°C and 36°C. Intense rainfall is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, which may provide relief from the heat and humidity.
