Traffic congestion, several accidents reported on NSE ahead of Deepavali

KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy traffic was reported on several sections of the North-South Expressway (NSE) in the early hours, with multiple accidents occurring ahead of the upcoming Deepavali festivities. The congestion was observed on both sides of the highway, with the northbound route experiencing particularly severe delays. Reports of traffic jams first emerged at 12:04am along the northbound stretch from Permatang Pauh to Sungai Dua, followed by similar conditions along the routes between Slim River and Sungkai, Sungai Buloh Hospital to Rawang R&R area, Jasin to Ayer Keroh, Kulai to Sedenak, and Skudai to Senai.

On the southbound NSE Central Link, congestion was also noted from Bandar Serenia to Bandar Baru Nilai. An accident near Km420.7, between Bukit Beruntung and Bukit Tagar, blocked the emergency lane and led to further traffic bottlenecks. Additional accidents at Km81, Km354, Km409.6, and Km315 northbound stretches disrupted the flow of vehicles, causing several km of delays.

While the right lane at Km354 was later reopened, the right lane remained closed due to another accident reported at Km315, leading to ongoing congestion. Southbound traffic also faced disruptions, with accidents at Km227.3, Km277.6, and Km267.2 causing blockages and further congestion. In response to the situation, PLUS activated the SmartLane at Km151.4 to Km146.4 northbound, and Km159.2 to Km162.7 southbound, allowing light vehicles to use the emergency lanes.

As of 7:41am, these measures helped alleviate traffic pressures. Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and East Coast Expressway Phase 1 were reported to be running smoothly in both directions at 7am, with congestion affecting only the eastbound sections due to increased vehicle volume.