Thousands of commuters in one of India’s wealthiest suburbs were stuck on roads for six to eight hours due to rain-triggered traffic gridlock on Monday.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many questioning how a place like Gurugram – known for its futuristic skyscrapers and sprawling corporate offices – could have such poor infrastructure.
Disaster management authorities in the suburb, which is located on the outskirts of capital Delhi, have advised offices, schools and colleges to work from home on Tuesday as more rainfall is predicted.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in several parts of India this year, killing hundreds of people in floods and landslides.
Many people took to social media to express their frustration with Gurugram’s “nightmarish” traffic, which was more than 10km (6.2 miles) long on one road, according to local media.
A viral video shows a never-ending row of cars clogging at least a dozen lanes of a key highway.
“Gurugram is drowning. You pay exorbitant rent to come home to this,” one user said on X.
Some users joked about whether they should just sleep in office and others said they’d probably reach faster on foot.
Gurugram is part of Haryana state, which is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Frustrated residents raised questions about why the state has not been able to improve infrastructure in the city, which houses the regional headquarters of some of the biggest companies, including Google, Meta, American Express and Samsung.
Meanwhile, weather warnings have also been issued in Delhi and surrounding cities.
The Yamuna river, which passes through the city, has crossed the danger mark over the past few days, flooding some low-lying areas. Authorities have been urging people living there to move to safer places.
The Old Railway Bridge, which connects two sides of the river, has been closed due to the rising water level.
In a social media post on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assured residents that the situation was being closely monitored.
India regularly witnesses severe floods during the monsoon season, which runs between June and September. But officials say the intensity of rains this season has been significantly higher.
Rains have also battered other states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and parts of Indian-administered Kashmir.
At least 29 people have died due to flooding in Punjab where more rains are predicted on Tuesday.
Data released by Himachal Pradesh’s disaster management authority shows that 310 people have been killed in rain-related incidents – like flash floods, landslides, and road accidents – in the state since June 2025.
Last month, at least 46 people were killed in a village hosting Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir.
On 5 August, nearly half of the village of Dharali, in Uttarakhand state, was submerged after it was hit by a massive flash flood.
By BBC News
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