Delhi traffic jams spare no one, not even US Secretary of State John Kerry
30 August, New Delhi
US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in Delhi to take part in the seventh India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, was today delayed due to crawling traffic along with his convoy.
American media persons, who were accompanying Kerry, reported that his motorcade was stuck in one of the many crippling traffic jams while he was on the way to his hotel in Chanakyapuri.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Journalist Nicolas Wadhams said, “John Kerry stuck in traffic like everyone else on wet New Delhi night.” “Kerry’s drive from the airport took two hours. More rain forecast for tomorrow,” he added.
Delhi commuters too had a harrowing time due to traffic snarls caused by heavy showers that lashed the capital, though it led to some respite from the humid weather conditions bringing down the temperature. Huge traffic jams and water logging were reported across the city as heavy showers began since early afternoon and continued till evening with short gaps. Cities main arteries and major crossings like the Ashoka Road, ITO, Ashram, Ring road all were choked stranding the commuters.
The rains led to a sharp drop in temperature. The maximum temperature settled at 34.7 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was 26.5 degrees C. The Met department has forecast thunderstorm with rain at several parts in the capital tomorrow. The relative humidity oscillated between 98 per cent maximum and 70 per cent minimum. The rainfall recorded till 1730 hrs was 15 mm. Temperature dropped by few notches as compared to yesterday’s 36 degrees C. It lent coolness to the air and pleasantness which is expected to continue in the night as well.
The rains caused water logging under flyovers which hindered movement of traffic on roads. Taking advantage of the situation, autos and taxis divers were over charging even for small distances, causing problems to commuters. People had a harrowing time while leaving offices in the evening and were forced to stay back waiting for the rain to stop.