Maha Kumbh Traffic Chaos: The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings in India, has taken a troubling turn this year as lakhs of devotees find themselves ‘road arrested’ in a chaotic traffic jam. With some stuck for more than 10-15 hours in their vehicles, the situation has left many in dire straits, dealing with hunger, exhaustion, and mounting frustration. What was expected to be a peaceful spiritual journey has turned into a nightmare for thousands trying to reach the holy Sangam.
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Maha Kumbh Traffic Chaos: Overwhelming Traffic Floods Prayagraj’s Roads
The massive influx of devotees heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh has brought the city’s transport system to a grinding halt. Despite the completion of the major Amrit Snans (holy baths), the rush of devotees in the last few days has surprised even the local administration. Roads, streets, and highways surrounding Prayagraj have been overwhelmed by a flood of vehicles, rendering the city’s traffic system ineffective.
There are seven major routes that lead to Prayagraj, but all have been severely affected by the traffic jams. Vehicles coming from Lucknow, Ayodhya, and Pratapgarh, among other places, have been rerouted to Malaka, where parking has been arranged in Bela Kachhar. However, the situation has only worsened, with traffic jams stretching over 20 kilometers from the Malaka area.
Maha Kumbh Traffic Chaos: A Devastating Delay: From 7:30 PM to 11 AM
Take the case of Reema, who left from Gonda (next to Ayodhya) on a Saturday evening at 7:30 PM with hopes of attending the Maha Kumbh. She expected to reach the Sangam by the morning, but after spending hours stuck in traffic, she finally reached the vicinity of Sangam at 11 AM on Sunday. Her journey from the start to the destination had stretched to over 15 hours. Others, like Pancham from Sikar, Rajasthan, have also found themselves unable to reach their destination despite leaving days ago, facing critical issues regarding food, water, and sanitation on the way.
Long Journeys Turn into Endless Waits
For those arriving from distant places, the situation is even more dire. Vehicles from Delhi, Kanpur, and other areas are being stopped at Nehru Park, where devotees are stuck for hours. Manoj Jain from Rajasthan describes how his 4 km journey within Prayagraj took 6 hours to complete due to the congestion. Eventually, many were forced to walk the remaining 10-12 km to reach the Sangam, after abandoning their vehicles.
Gaurav Gupta, who boarded a bus from Jhakarkatti Bus Stand in Kanpur at midnight, faced an equally frustrating experience. While the bus typically takes 4 to 5 hours to reach Prayagraj, this time it took an entire 12 hours due to the overwhelming traffic.
Maha Kumbh Traffic Chaos: Rewa-Prayagraj Route: A 50-Kilometer Standstill
The Rewa-Prayagraj route has seen some of the worst traffic jams, with vehicles jammed for up to 50 kilometers. Diksha Sahu from Amravati, Maharashtra, has been stuck in this traffic for more than 48 hours. Despite the challenges, she expressed gratitude for the facilities set up to manage such a large crowd, though the overwhelming number of people has made it difficult to ensure everyone’s comfort.
For some, the situation has been even more extreme. Two travelers from Hyderabad report that they’ve been stuck in the traffic for over 36 hours, with vehicles being halted every 30 kilometers. Amit Kumar from Etah shares his frustration, as he thought he would be bathing at Sangam by 5 AM but couldn’t even get close to the fairgrounds by 9 AM.
Increased Police Presence and Growing Tensions
Amid this traffic chaos, tensions have been rising. The local police have been struggling to manage the situation, with barricades set up in multiple locations around the city and along the route to the Sangam. This has led to confrontations between the police and the devotees, further complicating the situation. One such confrontation, involving a sub-inspector and a motorcyclist near Civil Lines, was captured on camera.
In areas like Chungi and Sohbatiabagh, long queues of vehicles have been stuck for hours on end, with no clear resolution in sight. The situation inside the city has become increasingly volatile, with police trying to regulate the flow of people and vehicles, but it’s clear that the sheer volume has overwhelmed local authorities.
The Surge of Vehicles: 15 Lakh in Just Three Days
According to reports, over 15 lakh vehicles entered Prayagraj within just three days of February 7 to 9, with the number continuing to rise. The sudden influx of devotees has caught the authorities off guard, especially considering that the Maha Kumbh was expected to see a lower turnout after the main bathing dates (Amrit Snans) concluded. However, this assumption has proven incorrect, as the number of devotees arriving has only increased, causing a near-collapse of the city’s infrastructure.
