Hyderabad: A massive traffic jam paralysed movement near Nagarjuna Sagar on Sunday as weekend visitors flocked to the dam following the recent opening of its crest gates.
The Nagarjuna Sagar traffic jam extended over five kilometers, with thousands of vehicles stuck for hours. Tourists from Hyderabad and across the Telugu states arrived in large numbers to witness the water flow from the dam, which had become a major attraction after 18 years.
Traffic jam caused by tourist rush, dam gate interest
Police struggled to control the congestion, working for hours to clear the blockage. Commuters reported being stranded in long queues, some for over two hours.
The spike in tourism came after officials lifted 20 crest gates of the project in July – a rare occurrence that had not happened in nearly two decades. The dam’s spectacular overflow drew attention statewide.
However, with rainfall subsiding upstream, the inflow has decreased. Authorities have now closed all 20 gates. Officials urged tourists to take note of the closure before planning their visit to avoid crowd-related disruptions.
