Wednesday, July 12 2006 17:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Heavy rains coupled with security checks left thousands of commuters stranded on roads for long hours in the capital Wednesday.

Huge traffic snarls were seen in all major junctions including ITO, Pragati Maidan, Nizamuddin, Preet Vihar, Subhash Nagar, Noida More, Maharani Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand among others.

Irritated commuters complained that the ongoing roadwork and water logging at several places on the ring road posed major hurdles. They said authorities must act quickly to deal with the situation.

"It took me nearly one and half hours to reach Safdarjung Enclave from Noida, which is triple the time it takes on a normal day. The underpass constructions at Moolchand and water logging on some stretches obstructed the traffic flow," said Suraj Malhotra, a commuter.

"All road construction work should have been completed before the onset of the monsoons. But due to government apathy, it's the commuters who are suffering the most" he added.

The security checks on several Delhi roads in the wake of the Mumbai serial blasts also added to the misery of commuters.

"We know that police is carrying out its duty but putting barricades on major roads simply lengthened the traffic snarls," said Pravakar Kumar, another commuter.

Police officials, however, said that these measures were for the security of the people and hence, they should not complain about it. "Looking at the magnanimity of the terror attacks in Mumbai, these are precautionary measures and not aimed at causing problems to residents," said a police official.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi has received 75 mm rainfall since Tuesday morning.

"Since, Tuesday morning, the capital has recorded 75 mm rains and the situation is likely to continue," said an IMD official. Weathermen have predicted cloudy sky and thundershowers over the next 48 hours (till Friday forenoon).

"Few spells of heavy showers has already exposed the city roads and there was severe water logging in Preet Vihar. I think all the promises of the civic agencies regarding their preparedness for the monsoons are half truths," said Govind Singh, who commutes from Ghaziabad to Connaught Place.