Autorickshaw crashes after road caves in on Delhi’s NH-44 flyover; traffic curbs extended to Wazirabad, ITO as Yamuna swells

An autorickshaw driver said he suffered injuries when the road caved in in the early hours of Thursday. “I was driving towards the Singhu border via the Karnal bypass… As I approached the Banku restaurant near the (Singhola) flyover, the road just collapsed under me. My vehicle was heavily damaged and I have injuries to my face and hands… The accident caused me to crash into the windshield, and it shattered because of the force of the crash,” Umesh, 45, told The Indian Express.

According to Umesh, there were no passersby in the area since it was close to 5.30 am when the accident occurred. “I had to call the PCR myself, and the ambulance took me to Raja Harish Chandra Hospital,” he said.

A flooded Yamuna Bazar in New Delhi on Thursday. Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal

Umesh said he had bought the vehicle around a year ago on a five-year loan. “Now I have to make payments on the loan and pay for the damage to my vehicle,” the autorickshaw driver said.

The police said all vehicles would now be diverted from Mukarba Chowk on NH-44 and Bakoli village towards Urban Extension Road-II to alternative routes.

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In another advisory, the police said that the rising water level in the Yamuna had led to waterlogging on the Outer Ring Road between Majnu Ka Tila and the Ring Road bypass, forcing diversions at Wazirabad, Chandgi Ram Akhada, ITO Chowk, Rajghat, Shanti Van, and the Indraprastha Flyover.

Traffic has been routed through alternative corridors, including Khyber Pass, Rajpur Road, Shamnath Marg, Geeta Colony Flyover, and Signature Bridge. Vehicles moving between ISBT, ITO, and central Delhi have to take these alternative routes for smooth passage.

The Old Wazirabad Bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic after water overflowed onto the drain bridge near Soor Ghat, said the police. Diversions have been placed at the Wazirabad Flyover, with alternative connectivity routed through Signature Bridge, Khajuri Chowk, and adjoining roads. Vehicles from Mukarba Chowk, ISBT, and Timarpur Road heading towards Sonia Vihar and Khajuri Chowk are being diverted accordingly, said the police.

The traffic police have appealed to road users to remain patient, follow the diversions, and cooperate with officers deployed on the ground.