Thousands of devotees traveling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela are stranded on highways as massive traffic congestion, reportedly stretching up to 300 kilometers, has brought vehicle movement to a standstill. Some commuters have been stuck in traffic for nearly 48 hours, struggling to reach their destination.
Weekend Rush Causes Chaos
The jammed routes primarily include highways connecting Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur to Prayagraj, with reports of vehicles moving at a snail’s pace. Even within the city, a seven-kilometer-long jam has been reported near the Maha Kumbh venue.
Authorities believe the congestion was caused by the weekend rush, despite earlier assumptions that the crowds would thin out after the Basant Panchami Amrit Snan. However, the opposite has happened, with lakhs of devotees continuing to arrive for the holy dip at the Sangam.
Police Halt Vehicle Movement
Struggling to manage the overwhelming traffic, police in parts of neighboring Madhya Pradesh have halted vehicle movement towards Prayagraj. “It is impossible to travel towards Prayagraj today due to a traffic jam spanning 200-300 km,” officials said.
Inspector General of Police (Rewa Zone) Saket Prakash Pandey said the situation is expected to improve in a few days. “Vehicles are being allowed only in coordination with the Prayagraj administration,” he added.
One stranded traveler recounted his ordeal, saying, “It is taking almost 10-12 hours to cover just 50 km.”
Railway Station Shut Amid Crowd Surge
The Prayagraj Sangam railway station has been temporarily shut to prevent chaos as passengers were struggling to exit the station due to the massive crowds outside. Railways officer Kuldeep Tiwari confirmed the closure, citing safety concerns.
To ease congestion, a single-direction traffic system has been implemented at the Prayagraj Junction railway station for better crowd management.
Authorities Struggle to Control the Rush
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Kuldeep Singh attributed the jam to an unprecedented number of vehicles attempting to get as close as possible to the Maha Kumbh Mela area. “The sheer volume of cars is causing the congestion,” he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the Uttar Pradesh government, blaming the poor traffic management for shortages of essential commodities in the city.
Despite the traffic chaos, the devotion remains unwavering. Over 46 lakh pilgrims took a dip at the Sangam today alone, while the overall number of devotees since the Maha Kumbh began last month has crossed 44 crore, according to officials.
Sources By Agencies
