First Heavy Monsoon Rains Trigger NH-48 Cave-In, Traffic Chaos in Gurugram
The first major monsoon spell caused significant disruptions across Gurugram on Tuesday, with a section of National Highway 48 collapsing near Narsinghpur and leading to severe traffic congestion and waterlogging in several parts of the city.
According to traffic data from Google Maps, vehicles on NH-48 between Narsinghpur and Udyog Vihar Phase-IV, as well as on arterial roads leading to the highway, were moving at a crawl around 7:30 pm. The cave-in occurred on the Delhi-Jaipur carriageway. Authorities diverted traffic from Delhi towards Jaipur at Rajiv Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk via the Southern Peripheral Road. Commuters from Delhi were advised to use the Dwarka Expressway.
The rains began around 2:30 pm, coinciding with school dispersal hours, leading to waterlogging and congestion on arterial roads, underpasses, and other key stretches. Several school buses were caught in the traffic, and some vehicles broke down in waterlogged areas. Trees were uprooted in some locations, further affecting movement, according to the Gurugram Police.
In a statement, the Gurugram Police said, “Due to the ongoing heavy rainfall, significant traffic congestion and waterlogging have been reported on NH-48. All motorists traveling between Delhi and Gurugram are strongly advised to use alternative routes to NH-48.” The police also issued a work-from-home advisory, urging corporate sector and private establishments to allow employees to work from home for the next few days, citing risks of waterlogging and congestion.
The city recorded approximately 80 mm of rainfall until 5 pm. Local media reported that in the Civil Lines area, a school bus and two SUVs became stuck in a pit dug for pipeline work that was submerged due to water accumulation. Sector 15 and Patel Nagar witnessed heavy waterlogging. In Sector 68, the false ceiling of a showroom inside a shopping mall collapsed minutes after the rain began.
Social media users expressed frustration, with one posting, “Gurugram received 30 mins of rain and already seeing traffic jam for more than five kms and water logging.” Another user, Jitender Sharma, shared pictures of the Narsinghpur cave-in, commenting on the recurring nature of such issues.
The Gurugram Police deployed additional personnel at key points, and senior officers visited affected areas to coordinate response. Coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, and other departments was established to address waterlogging, obstructions, and damaged road surfaces. Cranes, recovery vehicles, pumps, water tankers, and other resources were pressed into service to rescue stranded vehicles. Private resources were also mobilized where needed.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram stated, “The primary objective during heavy rainfall was to ensure speedy drainage of water and maintain smooth traffic flow. Tractor-mounted pumps, de-watering pumps, suction tankers, and other machinery were deployed at various locations.”
