Chaotic Situation on Patna Streets due to RJD Rally
Patna: Oct. 28, 2007
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Chaotic Situation on Patna Streets
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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People in Patna, thanks to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-sponsored Chetawani Rally in the state capital on Sunday, had a harrowing time on the streets that remained gridlocked for most of the morning and afternoon making it nearly impossible to move from one place to another be it on two-wheelers, autos, or the rickshaws.
Brought from remote villages of Bihar in a display of political strength for the RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, the visitors appeared to be more interested in sightseeing that included a dip in the Ganges, scaling of the Gol Ghar, taking an elevator ride in a multi-storied building, a trip to the Patna Museum, visiting sprawling shopping centers, and the must-see Bollywood movies in Patna theaters.
Folk dancers from Jharkhand and various other places and the 'launda nautch' further brought the traffic to a standstill at many intersections only to add to the locals' misery.
Streets of Patna remained woefully crowded throughout the day as by 1:00 pm, visitors scrambled to catch their trains, buses, tractors, or whatever means of transportation they had used to visit Patna, many for the first time.
By 3:00 pm, the crowd at the railway station reached its peak causing a major traffic jam near the Mahavir Temple forcing the authorities to divert the traffic causing a melee among the train-catchers.
Traffic on major intersections like Dak Bungalow crossing, Exhibition Road, Stati0n Road, Frazer Road, Chiraiyantand Bridge, R-Block came to a virtual stop though by late evening traffic condition resumed its normal pace with only a handful of visitors staying over to do more sightseeing on Monday.
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