Heavy rains battered parts of the Delhi National Capital Region on Monday, triggering chaos on major roads and leaving commuters stranded in traffic jams that stretched for as long as eight hours.
The worst-affected areas included Gurugram, a bustling suburb known for its corporate offices and high-rise apartments. Key arterial routes such as the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway and Sohna Road were choked with vehicles, as waterlogging and flooding turned daily commutes into a test of endurance.
Videos shared on social media showed cars crawling bumper-to-bumper, while some motorists abandoned their vehicles to wade through waist-deep water. “I left the office at 6 p.m. and didn’t reach home until 2 a.m.,” said one exhausted commuter. “It was absolute gridlock everywhere.”
Authorities blamed the snarls on a combination of relentless downpours, inadequate drainage systems, and an overwhelming surge of vehicles trying to leave the city during peak evening hours. Municipal officials deployed pumps in an attempt to drain waterlogged junctions, but relief was slow to come.
The disruption also affected emergency services, with ambulances struggling to navigate flooded streets. Several reports emerged of patients and schoolchildren being stranded for hours.
Urban planners have long warned that Gurugram’s rapid expansion has outpaced its infrastructure, leaving the city vulnerable to severe flooding during monsoon spells. Monday’s deluge reignited criticism of local authorities for failing to implement lasting drainage and road upgrades despite repeated incidents in previous years.
Weather forecasters have predicted more rain in the coming days, raising concerns of fresh disruptions. Police have urged commuters to avoid non-essential travel and use public transport where possible.
For many residents, however, the chaos has reinforced a sense of frustration. “Every year it’s the same story,” said a local shopkeeper. “One heavy rain and the whole city collapses.
