Four ambulances stuck about an hour in Sonauli traffic jam on India-Nepal border

Four ambulances were stuck for roughly an hour in a traffic jam at Sonauli, on the India-Nepal border in Maharajganj district, Uttar Pradesh, Amar Ujala reported. The jam occurred around 3:30 PM on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, near the Ram Janaki Temple close to the customs office.

According to the report, the ambulances were travelling in both directions, and their sirens sounded for about an hour. One was carrying a serious patient who had been referred from Gorakhpur back to Nepal, while another was bringing a patient from Nepal into India. The report said no police personnel were visible at the spot during the jam, though all the ambulances eventually got through.

Reported cause

Local residents said the main road is narrowed by handcarts, fruit and vegetable stalls, a juice shop occupying about half the road, and encroachment on footpaths. Sonauli Kotwal Vishal Shukla said police were deployed to clear a path and officers were directed to stay alert.

Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers

The report highlights how roadside encroachment can delay patient transport on busy border routes, where cross-border ambulance runs are common.