Vehicles move just 5 km in a day as Delhi-Kolkata highway suffers four-day long jam

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding on the crucial Delhi-Kolkata Highway (NH-19), where a massive traffic gridlock has left hundreds of vehicles trapped for an unprecedented four days. The epicentre of the chaos is a flooded stretch in Bihar's Rohtas district, with the bumper-to-bumper queue now reported to be extending nearly 65 kilometres up to Aurangabad. Commuters and truckers alike are facing an agonizing ordeal, with movement reduced to a painful crawl—drivers report traveling a mere five kilometres in 24 hours in the worst-affected sections.

The nightmare began last Friday after torrential rains lashed the Rohtas region. The sudden downpour quickly submerged the temporary diversions and service lanes that had been constructed by the company managing the six-lane highway development project. These submerged routes became unusable, forcing all traffic onto the main carriageway, which itself had deteriorated rapidly.

The combination of persistent flooding and heavy truck movement has resulted in the emergence of massive potholes across the road. Worse still, the waterlogging has made the surface dangerously slippery, compounding the traffic jam with every passing hour. What started as a simple delay has spiralled into a catastrophic logistical failure, trapping the arteries of one of India's most important commercial corridors.

The plight of the stranded drivers is becoming increasingly desperate. Drivers, many of whom have been stuck for over two days, report running out of essential supplies like food and water. "Over the past 30 hours, we've travelled only seven kilometres," a truck driver stated, expressing frustration over the lack of visible support. "Despite paying tolls and road taxes, we're stuck here for hours. Neither NHAI officials nor local authorities are visible on the ground."

The prolonged gridlock is causing severe economic disruption. Truckers carrying perishable goods face the grim reality of massive financial losses as their cargo spoils in the extended delays. Furthermore, the jammed route has created immense difficulties for essential services, with ambulances, emergency services, and tourist vehicles struggling to navigate the immovable line of traffic.

The official response to this crisis has been notably absent. When confronted about the situation, Ranjit Verma, the Project Director for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), reportedly declined to appear on camera or offer any comment. This lack of accountability and on-the-ground support has only deepened the anger and distress of the hundreds of citizens stranded on the highway, highlighting a severe management failure in maintaining critical national infrastructure.