Siddaramaiah’s 75th birthday bash | Massive crowds gather at Davanagere, vehicles pile up on national highway

The 75th birthday celebrations of Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah in Davanagere has caused a huge traffic congestion within the city

The 75th birthday celebrations of Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah in Davanagere has caused huge traffic jams within the city and also on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway with vehicles lining up for kilometres.

Apart from the 1,500 buses hired for the event by the organising committee, thousands of vehicles including cars, SUVs, MUVs, mini buses from across the state have reached the city from different directions leading to traffic chaos.

Consequently, vehicles have lined up on the national highway and the police personnel are having a difficult time ensuring vehicular movement within the city.

One of the traffic officials told this correspondent that the traffic jam had started as early as 6 a.m. as more and more vehicles began arriving from different routes to the venue.

Following the death in a road accident of Prakash Badiger from Mudhol taluk, who was travelling to Davanagere to attend the birthday celebrations, Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to request people to drive carefully.

Although around 200 acres have been earmarked for the parking, it seems inadequate considering the huge number of vehicles moving towards the venue. Meanwhile, people on two wheelers from nearby villages and towns, too, have added to the gridlock.

Former AICC President Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address the gathering at 1 pm.