Bhadrak: Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on National Highway 16 in Bhadrak on Thursday, as traffic remained at a standstill for nearly eight hours, causing massive inconvenience to commuters heading towards Balasore.
The gridlock developed beneath the Dhamara railway overbridge and reportedly began around 11 pm, persisting through the night. Motorists were stuck for hours, with long queues stretching for several kilometres.
According to reports, the jam was triggered by a truck that broke down on the highway. The situation was further aggravated by ongoing construction work, which narrowed the passage and restricted vehicle movement.
Bhadrak SDPO Sanatan Rout said, “The block initially occurred around 9 pm, but we managed to clear it temporarily. However, another jam developed around 2 am when a loaded vehicle broke down on the service road, preventing traffic from crossing. The broken-down vehicle cannot be moved or towed until it is repaired. Our team is working to clear the traffic and assist motorists in the area.”
Efforts by the Rural Police Station were underway throughout the night to restore normal movement on the highway.
