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New Delhi: Thousands of commuters and truck drivers remain stranded on National Highway 19 in Bihar, as a 15–20 kilometre-long traffic jam continues near Sasaram and Rohtas. Stranded travellers, many on long-haul journeys between Kolkata and Delhi, are surviving on roadside tea and biscuits as vehicles crawl at a snail’s pace.

“No authorities have visited us yet. We have barely been able to move. We are surviving on tea and biscuits,” said truck driver Sanjay Das, as reported by India Today. Another driver, Duban Kumar, who was travelling from Odisha to Delhi, said, “The jam has been there since yesterday morning, around 8 am. I’ve barely moved 5 kilometres. I’ve been stuck here in Sasaram itself since then. There is no food, we are surviving on little snacks available on the roadside.”

रोहतास, बिहार

दिल्ली-कोलकाता हाईवे पर बीते 4 दिनों से लंबा जाम, NH पर 40KM तक फैला जाम

बीते चार दिनों से लगा जाम रोहतास जिले से लेकर औरंगाबाद जिले तक पहुंचा, 24 घंटे में गाड़ीयां 5km रास्ता तय कर पा रही है…@yadavtejashwi @NitishKumar #Bihar #Rohtas #Video pic.twitter.com/NpNG3CL2co

— Gaurav Kumar (@gaurav1307kumar)

Congestion due to ongoing road widening work on NH-19

The congestion has formed due to ongoing road widening work by the National Highways Authority of India near Shivsagar. Torrential rains over the past three days have compounded the problem, narrowing the usable road and forcing traffic through temporary diversions. The Aurangabad–Varanasi stretch, in particular, has been brought to a near standstill, affecting hundreds of trucks and passenger vehicles.

National Highway 19, which connects Kolkata and Delhi, passes through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It links major cities such as Varanasi, crosses the Ganges multiple times, and forms a vital segment of the historic Grand Trunk Road. The highway is also part of the international Asian Highway Network (AH1) and the Golden Quadrilateral, making it a crucial artery for domestic and cross-border trade.

Truckers, commuters stranded; authorities yet to intervene

Despite the highway’s strategic importance, local authorities have yet to provide significant relief. Stranded travellers report a lack of basic facilities, with no official arrangements for food, water, or assistance. The prolonged standstill has disrupted trade, delayed passenger travel, and highlighted vulnerabilities in the region’s transport infrastructure.

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