Traffic Chaos Hits Hyderabad as Ganesha Idol Immersion Disrupts Commute

HYDERABAD: As the city celebrated the immersion of Ganesha idols with much zeal and fanfare, it also witnessed a chaotic day for commuters. Though educational institutions, banks, and various establishments remained closed for the occasion, several employees were forced to deal with traffic snarls and uncertainty about reaching their workplaces on time.

The situation took a particularly grim turn for those professionals who had to report to work by 9 a.m. on Thursday. Many found themselves trapped in traffic jams that persisted until almost 10:30 a.m., causing substantial delays in their daily routines.

With concerns about disruption due to the immersion process, some companies offered work-from-home (WFH) options or official holidays for their employees, but some others asked employees to come to work or directed workers to take leave, further compounding the challenges faced by many working professionals, especially IT employees.

Due to such challenges, those with offices in areas like Gachibowli, Kondapur, and Madhapur bore the brunt of the situation. Heavy rains poured down relentlessly, adding to the commuters' woes. Those who managed to reach their workplaces had to stay back in offices due to the poor weather.

Some of the IT professionals who had their own vehicles were not spared either, as they found themselves stranded at key junctions. The city's already complex traffic situation worsened with diversions in place, which prolonged the commute for many.

Anirudh Kumar, an employee who resides in Nallakunta posted on X (formerly Twitter), "The combination of Ganesh immersion and heavy rainfall today has made it nearly impossible for us to get to work. It's frustrating that some companies didn't offer WFH as an option or even declare a holiday."

"Many of us expressed our apprehensions about the problems we would definitely face when returning home, but our requests were ignored," said Prathima L., who had left her car at her office in Knowledge City to take the Metro Rail.