A massive traffic snarl, stretching for an estimated 20 to 65 kilometers, has turned a section of the vital National Highway 19 (NH-19) into a nightmare for thousands of travelers and truck drivers. Vehicles have been stuck for up to four days near Sasaram and Rohtas in Bihar, with reports of movement as little as 5-7 kilometers in 24 hours. The monumental congestion, which has reportedly extended to Aurangabad, has severely impacted supply chains and left commuters stranded with dwindling food and water supplies.
Primary Cause of the Jam
The bottleneck is a result of a combination of factors:
- Torrential Rain and Waterlogging: Heavy rains in Bihar’s Rohtas district flooded the temporary diversions and service lanes that were created for the ongoing six-lane road widening work being carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- Damaged Diversions and Potholes: The flooding and waterlogging have severely damaged these temporary roads, creating large potholes and turning them into muddy, slippery paths. This forces vehicles to crawl and slip, dramatically slowing down traffic flow.
- Road Widening Work: The existing road widening project near Shivsagar had already narrowed the main carriageway, making it highly susceptible to congestion when the temporary diversion routes failed.
Impact on Commuters and Commerce
The situation has been described as “highway hell” by those caught in the jam, which affects a major segment of the historic Grand Trunk Road and a crucial artery for trade between eastern and northern India.
- Travel Time: Drivers reported being stranded for multiple days, with one trucker claiming to have moved only 7 kilometers in 30 hours.
- Hardship: Stranded commuters, particularly truck drivers, are facing a severe shortage of food and drinking water.
- Economic Loss: The delay has raised serious concerns for businesses, especially those transporting perishable food items, facing the threat of massive losses.
- Administrative Inaction: Drivers have expressed frustration over the perceived lack of intervention or support from local administration and NHAI authorities to manage the crisis or provide relief.
Emergency Information
As of the latest reports, the massive traffic jam continues to hold up traffic from Aurangabad toward Varanasi on the Delhi-Kolkata (NH-19) route. Authorities are urged to clear the choked sections and address the infrastructural vulnerabilities of the temporary diversions.
