Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trapped in traffic jam in Koyilandy

KOZHIKODE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,  who was  returning from Vatakara to Kozhikode along with his escort vehicles, was trapped for hours together in the traffic block on the NH caused by the  inauguration of a textile shop in Koyilandy.

Based on a complaint filed by three people who were stuck in the nine-hour- long traffic jam, Koyilandy police registered a case against the owners of the Shobika Textile for not giving prior information to the police officials on the inaugural activities.  

The traffic personnel  had a tough time easing  the snarls. According to Koyilandy traffic unit SI Ramakrishnan, the organisers had arranged many attractive offers and lucky draws that drew  people to the showroom creating  the traffic block.

“The jam lasted  from Thiruvangur till Nandi, almost 20 km from the shop,” he said.   Since the roads are narrow, even a small function in the town can affect the traffic, he  pointed out. The worst affected were  two-wheelers and long- distance travellers who had to wait in the scorching sun.

The showroom was inaugurated by Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal and Kathakali maestro Guru Chemancherry Kunjiraman Nair. “To wait under the scorching sun for hours was the worst part of the incident  and unfortunately our police officials failed to control the traffic,”  said E. Biju, who was trapped in the jam.