KARACHI, Aug 9: Both the drivers and passengers of private and public transport vehicles plying on various routes, particularly those which are either lying ploughed or have been under construction for quite some time, suffered untold miseries in the wake of intermittent heavy rains that lashed the city on Thursday.

As vehicular traffic remained stuck for long durations because of ill-planned diversions and improper alternative routes and the non-availability of traffic police, a highly suffocating atmosphere was created on the roads because of poisonous emissions from stationary vehicles.

The ordeal which motorists and commuters suffering from hypertension and asthma might have suffered in such an environment cannot be imagined.

Traffic chaos has become a matter of routine on several major thoroughfares such as Rashid Minhas Road (from the UBL Sports Complex to the under-construction Sohrab Goth Flyover), a long stretch of the same road (from Millennium Shopping Mall to Jauhar Morr), Tipu Sultan Road, from Yasinabad to Aisha Manzil, Zeibunnisa Street and on a number of arteries leading to I.I. Chundrigar Road.

However, the worst traffic jam was witnessed on a major portion of the main University Road -- from New Town roundabout to Hasan Square flyover. The flow of vehicular traffic on this road often comes to a grinding halt mainly because traffic proceeding towards Liaquatabad and Nazimabad via Sir Shah Suleman Road from Stadium Road comes head-to-head with the traffic moving towards Hasan Square proceeding towards Nipa from the opposite direction.

The officials responsible for undertaking work along the Hasan Square flyover have closed a portion of Sir Shah Suleman Road for the traffic going towards Liaquatabad-Nazimabad from Stadium Road.

Though a diversion exists for vehicular traffic proceeding towards Liaquatabad-Nazimabad from Stadium Road, it is located at some distance from Hasan Square, invisible to motorists. Besides, one fails to see any guidance about such an alternative route all around Hasan Square. In such a situation, the traffic meant for Liquatabad-Nazimabad causes gridlock.

Traffic jams have also become routine on main Rashid Minhas Road as it has been lying in a highly precarious condition for a while and has developed deep craters and potholes.

At a number of places its bitumen has been completely worn out, causing heavy jolts to motorists, especially to motorcyclists and their pillion riders.