Celebration over DKS’s return causes traffic blocks in Bengaluru airport area

One of the videos also showed an ambulance stuck in a traffic jam caused by the celebration.

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A traffic gridlock on the road coming out of Bengaluru International Airport inconvenienced commuters on Friday evening after thousands of supporters of Congress leader DK Shivakumar gathered at the Devanahalli toll plaza.

The supporters were celebrating the release of DK Shivakumar from Tihar jail, 50 days after he was arrested on September 3. Shivakumar, who was in New Delhi after he was granted bail, landed at the Bengaluru International Airport on Saturday at 2.30 pm.

The planned celebration was held at the Devanahalli toll plaza and supporters gathered as early as 12 noon. One of the videos also showed an ambulance stuck in a traffic jam caused by the celebration.

"There was a minor traffic jam at the Devanahalli Toll plaza which was later cleared," a traffic police official at Devanahalli Traffic Police Station said. Traffic police officials maintained that there was minimal effect on the traffic due to the celebration even as videos of the long lines of vehicles stuck on the road coming out of the airport surfaced on social media. The traffic was stuck behind the procession held celebrating Shivakumar's release.

A long line of vehicles headed towards Bengaluru city from the airport were seen in a traffic jam as thousands of Congress party workers and DK Shivakumar supporters joined the celebration of his release from jail.

DK Shivakumar was arrested on September 3 in connection with a money laundering case. He was released after he was granted bail earlier this week. A celebration organised by his supporters on his return was attended by thousands of people.