First major spell of monsoon brings Gurugram to a standstill, NH-48 caves in near Narsinghpur, triggers traffic jam

The cave and heavy rain cause major traffic disruptions and waterlogging throughout the city. | Photo Credit: special editing

The first major monsoon rain brought Gurugram to a standstill on Tuesday afternoon as a section of National Highway-48 collapsed near Narsinghpur, leading to major traffic disruptions and waterlogging across the city.

According to Google Maps, traffic on NH-48 between Narsinghpur and Udyog Vihar Phase-IV and several major roads leading to the expressway was moving slowly around 7:30 pm.

The crash occurred on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. To ensure smooth flow and safety of motorists heading towards Jaipur from Delhi, traffic was diverted left from Rajiv Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk and diverted via Southern Ring Road. Travelers coming from Delhi have been advised to use Dwarka Expressway.

The rain, which started around 14.30, which coincided with the school dismissal time, caused serious waterlogging and traffic jams on main roads, underpasses and other important areas. Many school buses were caught in traffic jams. Gurugram Police said vehicles broke down in waterlogged areas and trees were uprooted, further disrupting movement.

Stating that serious traffic congestion and waterlogging have been reported on NH-48 due to ongoing heavy rainfall, Gurugram Police said, “All motorists traveling between Delhi and Gurugram are strongly advised to use alternative routes to NH-48.”

‘Work from home’

Issuing a work-from-home advisory, the police said: “Given the ongoing and expected heavy rains in Gurugram, there is a significant risk of waterlogging and traffic congestion on major arteries and junctions in the city. We strongly urge the corporate sector and private organizations to promote Work-from-Home arrangements for their employees over the next few days.”

Around 80 mm of rain was recorded in the city till 17:00. According to local media reports, a school bus and two SUVs were flooded in the Civil Lines area due to accumulation of water in the pit dug for pipeline laying works. Sector 15 and Patel Nagar witnessed heavy waterlogging. The false ceiling of an exhibition hall inside a shopping mall in Sector 68 collapsed minutes after the rain started.

Social media was flooded with complaints. An Another user, Jitender Sharma, shared pictures of the Narsinghpur cave with the caption: “Even though it’s raining, there’s no way Gurgaon won’t get flooded or the roads won’t get flooded.”

Gurugram Police deployed additional personnel at designated locations and senior officers visited the affected areas to issue instructions. Coordination was established with Gurugram Municipal Corporation, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority and other departments to clear waterlogging, obstructions and damaged road surfaces. Cranes, rescue vehicles, pumps, water tankers and other resources were put into service to rescue stranded vehicles. Private resources were also mobilized where needed. Police maintained constant regulation at waterlogged areas, major intersections, underpasses and other sensitive routes.

“During heavy rainfall, the primary objective of the municipal corporation was to ensure rapid drainage of water and ensure smooth traffic flow. Tractor-mounted pumps, dewatering pumps, suction tankers and other machinery were deployed at various locations,” MCG said in a press release.