Gurugram was once again paralysed by a massive traffic jam on Tuesday, as heavy rains battered the city and unleashed chaos on its key roadways.
A sudden afternoon downpour led to widespread flooding and gridlock throughout the Millennium City, with thousands of commuters left stranded in cars for hours along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and major arterial roads.
The worst snarl extended nearly 8 kilometers, stretching from Hero Honda Chowk to the Kherki Daula Toll Plaza. Rainfall started around 3.30 pm, quickly submerging stretches of NH-48, causing vehicles to crawl at a snail’s pace and rendering service lanes impassable.
Major choke points such as Agrasen Chowk, Sector 15, Mehrauli Road, Old Delhi Road, and the Delhi-Gurgaon border saw unbroken lines of cars, bikes, and buses, with some commuters describing the entire stretch as “a giant parking lot”.
Flight operations at Delhi airport were also severely affected, with at least 15 flights diverted due to inclement weather and accompanying delays. Many drivers were caught on their way to the airport, escalating the frustration.
Municipal Corporation of Gurugram officials scrambled to deploy water pumps and emergency crews to clear flooded intersections and underpasses, with Bajghera, Rajiv Chowk, and other key spots closed to traffic.
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya assured the public that all efforts were being made to restore normalcy, but the sheer volume of rainfall overwhelmed much of the city’s drainage infrastructure.
The episode has renewed criticism of Gurugram’s urban planning and flood preparedness. Despite repeated warnings from the India Meteorological Department, and similar jams just a month ago, plans to improve drainage and traffic management have yet to show lasting results.
Social media was abuzz with images of endless rows of cars and frustrated commuters, fueling debate over the city’s struggle to cope with even moderate rain events.
Experts point to the need for better drainage, coordinated traffic management, and a rethink of Gurugram’s approach to rapid urban expansion. Until then, such scenes of chaos are likely to remain a recurring part of life for one of India’s most dynamic urban hubs.