Saturday descended into a frustrating ordeal for countless commuters near Amballur, as an hours-long traffic snarl brought the national highway to a complete halt. Vehicles were trapped for extended periods, creating one of the most severe gridlocks the area has witnessed in recent memory. The seemingly endless line of cars and trucks stretched far, reaching all the way to Puthukkad town and leaving hundreds of travelers utterly exhausted and exasperated.
The severe congestion, which unexpectedly began in the afternoon, stubbornly persisted well into the evening. Despite the dedicated efforts of the Puthukkad police to alleviate the gridlock, the situation remained dire. Passengers reported agonizing delays, with some taking over half an hour just to navigate the Amballur stretch. Even essential service vehicles, including ambulances, found themselves ensnared in the chaos, struggling to make headway.
The situation was particularly acute near the Puthukkad Signal junction. Here, the sheer volume of traffic made it nearly impossible for vehicles to access critical routes like the railway station road and Kanjupadam road. This widespread transportation crisis was the result of a perfect storm: the usual weekend travel rush compounded by ongoing underpass construction on the highway, which had already restricted vehicle movement to a single lane.
The pervasive frustration among those trapped was perhaps best encapsulated by one exasperated motorist, who simply lamented, “Every weekend, it’s the exact same nightmare here.” This sentiment clearly highlights the recurring challenges faced by daily commuters and travelers alike in the region.