Haryana rallies force Delhi-Agra traffic to a crawl

AGRA - Two massive rallies organised in Haryana caused massive jams on the Delhi-Agra highway Monday.

In Gurgaon, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) organised a rally in memory of their leader and former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, while in Sonepat, the state government was gearing up to honour the Commonwealth Games medallists of the state.

“The number of vehicles could be in thousands. The whole system has been virtually paralysed,” said Ratan Lal, a trader, who was heading for Delhi.

Monday, being the weekly off in Agra, sees a large number of its traders heading for the capital’s wholesale markets like Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk to make purchases.

Many tourists, hoping to see the Taj Mahal, too were left stranded.

The police, meanwhile, were making efforts to divert the vehicles stuck at Palwal and Mathura to Aligarh.

Sources said the traffic was halted at the Haryana border Monday morning, and the route is not expected to open till late evening.

Commuters complained about the lack of prior information, and said the administration should have made alternate arrangements.