Massive traffic jams in parts of city as Valmiki community blocks key bridge

Thousands of commuters were left stranded on Wednesday as several groups of the Valmiki community blocked the Bhandari Bridge, the lifeline connecting the old walled city with the Civil Lines area, bringing traffic to a standstill for several hours.

Residents expressed anger over the utter mismanagement by the district administration and the police, even though the agitators had reportedly informed officials a day prior to the protest. The ongoing construction of the Rigo Bridge, which has been delayed for years, further compounded the traffic chaos.

The agitation stemmed from an internal dispute within the Valmiki community over the installation of a religious flag at the Valmiki Tirath (Ram Tirath Temple) complex. One group had installed a red-coloured flag on October 27, led by community representative Om Parkash Gabbar, while opposing factions demanded a different flag colour. The opposing groups had earlier submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh and announced their plan to hold a two-day protest by blocking traffic at Bhandari Bridge.

As the dharna began early in the morning, severe traffic congestion was reported across the city. Commuters expressed frustration at the administration’s failure to prepare diversion plans despite advance notice.

“When the authorities already knew that a blockade at Bhandari Bridge would paralyse city traffic, they should not have allowed it. If they did, they should have ensured proper diversions for smooth movement,” said Ravinder Sharma, a motorcyclist stuck in the jam.

Emergency vehicles and schoolchildren were among the worst affected. Many residents were forced to take alternate routes, with several seen crossing railway lines at the 22 Number crossing in Islamabad, a stretch closed for normal traffic since the construction of the flyover.

“You can imagine the desperation of people trying to find a way out of the chaos,” said Anita Kumari, a resident who, along with her son, was seen lifting her scooter to cross the railway track.

Later in the day, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and DIG (Border Range) Sandeep Goel reached Bhandari Bridge to pacify the agitators. The protest was called off in the evening after the Deputy Commissioner assured them of appropriate action.

The protesters demanded the registration of an FIR against those who installed the red flag and the removal of the flag from the temple complex.