GURGAON: Hundreds of commuters on NH-8 were left stuck for almost 10 hours on Friday after villagers blocked the highway and set over 30 vehicles, including buses and trucks, ablaze. The villagers set fire to the vehicles after they found a truck carrying beef near Malpura village.

Despite a large police contingent being deployed at the spot after the incident, the blockade could be cleared only around 9pm. However, with several buses still burning on the highway, traffic was completely restored only by 4am the next morning.

The 5-km-long traffic jam on the highway forced commuters to take an alternate route via Jhajjar.

But, the Jhajjar route too faced long due to the diversion. Satish Chaudhary, who was also stuck on the highway, said that it was horrifying to see several vehicles being set on fire on the highway.

Rewari SP Pankaj Nain told TOI, "Villagers blocked the highway around 2pm on Friday. Traffic crawled with the damaged buses burning on the road and obstructing passage of vehicles. Three people who were involved in the violence have been arrested and cases have been registered against them. The matter is being investigated further".

On Saturday morning, CRPF and RAF personnel were deployed on the highway to keep a watch on the situation and prevent any untoward incident. Rewari deputy commissioner, CG Rajini Kaanthan, and IG Satpal Ranga, along with other senior police and administrative officials, reviewed the situation on the highway.

The officials have directed the authorities concerned to remove the damaged vehicles including Rajasthan and Haryana Roadways buses from the highway to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Meanwhile, Haryana additional chief secretary (home), Samir Mathur, issued an order that from now onwards written permission from district magistrates will be required to be able to transport cattle from one place to another.

Also, the transit route will be confirmed in coordination with the district authorities and necessary force will be deployed on the route to tackle any law and order situation.