Massive 65-km traffic jam on Delhi-Kolkata highway, vehicles reportedly stuck for four days, here’s why
A massive traffic jam brought the Delhi-Kolkata Expressway (NH-19) to a near standstill and hundreds of vehicles were reportedly stranded for almost four days. Vehicles are lined up bumper to bumper and there is no sign of any relief since the congestion started.
A massive traffic jam brought the Delhi-Kolkata Expressway (NH-19) to a near standstill and hundreds of vehicles were reportedly stranded for almost four days. Vehicles are lined up bumper to bumper and there is no sign of any relief since the congestion started.
The chaos follows heavy rainfall in Bihar’s Rohtas district last Friday, which flooded service lanes and diversions built as part of the six-lane widening project on National Highway 19. According to NDTV, the heavy downpour created large puddles, potholes and slush fields, making parts of the highway almost impassable.
The outage turned the once busy highway into a long stretch of backwater traffic. Trucks, in particular, struggle to maintain balance on slippery, water-logged roads, and the congestion reportedly extends from Rohtas to Aurangabad, about 65 kilometers away.
Passengers and truck drivers expressed disappointment that the authorities did not intervene. Neither the construction company responsible for the six-lane project nor the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) appear to have taken any steps to ease the congestion.
“We have covered only seven kilometers in the past 30 hours. We are paying the fees and taxes, but we are stuck here with no help. There is no NHAI official or local authority on the ground,” a truck driver told NDTV.
Another driver, who was stranded for two days, said, “We are hungry and thirsty. It takes hours to move even a few kilometers.”
The congestion caused widespread disruption, affecting drivers transporting perishable goods and causing delays to emergency services, including ambulances. Pedestrians and tourists also face serious challenges; many vehicles are stranded without access to food, water and recreational facilities.
As the traffic situation continues, authorities face increasing pressure to restore vehicle flow and provide assistance to those stranded on one of India’s busiest highways.
