Unprecedented traffic chaos has engulfed the roads leading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, with vehicles queuing for up to 300 kilometres. The world’s largest religious gathering has attracted millions of pilgrims, many of whom found themselves stranded hundreds of kilometres from the fair site. The situation became so severe that authorities were forced to close Prayagraj’s Raj Sangam railway station from February 9 to 14. Many people have also shared shocking images of extremely packed roads online where it’s being called the ‘world’s biggest traffic jam.’
World’s Biggest Traffic Jam: 300 Km, 10-12 Hours, Choked Roads
According to an article that was recently published by the Hindustan Times or HT, eight other stations in the Mahakumbh area are still operational. These include Prayagraj Junction and Naini. In Madhya Pradesh, police took extraordinary measures by halting traffic in several districts to prevent further overcrowding.
Motorists reported taking ten to 12 hours to cover merely 50 kilometres, with some vehicles stuck for up to 48 hours. The congestion stretched across Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar and Rewa districts. This ended up affecting the 250-kilometre stretch from Katni to the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border at Chakghat.
Social media was flooded with accounts of stranded pilgrims, with one traveller reporting moving just five kilometres in five hours, forcing them to cancel and rebook flights at double the cost. Inspector General Saket Prakash Pandey indicated that the situation might improve within days, whilst local authorities are coordinating to manage the flow of vehicles.
Influx Of Pilgrims Keeps On Continuing And Affecting
The Rewa district administration noted that the continuous influx of pilgrims has maintained pressure on the Rewa-Prayagraj route. Officials have arranged food, water and accommodation for those stuck in the gridlock.
The BJP president VD Sharma urged party workers to assist pilgrims where possible. The Maha Kumbh fair began on January 13 and continues until February 26. The fair has already drawn over 40 crore visitors seeking to take a holy dip at the Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers meet.
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Cover Image Credits: @dash_nitun and @chhoti2021/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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