Massive traffic jam chokes roads to Maha Kumbh

A massive traffic congestion spanning 200-300 kilometers brought vehicular movement to a standstill in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, as thousands of pilgrims headed to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela. The unprecedented gridlock forced police to halt traffic in multiple districts, leaving travelers stranded for hours.

Madhya Pradesh police in Katni announced that traffic would remain suspended until Monday, while authorities in Maihar advised vehicles to turn back towards Katni and Jabalpur. “It is impossible to move towards Prayagraj today as there is a traffic jam of 200-300 kilometers,” officials said.

The heavy rush of devotees also caused significant disruptions in Prayagraj. Over 1.42 crore pilgrims took a dip in the Ganga and Sangam till 6 p.m. on Sunday, while the overall count of bathers at the ongoing fair has crossed 42 crore, according to official data. The influx led to severe overcrowding, forcing railway authorities to shut down Prayagraj Sangam railway station due to excessive crowds outside.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticized the handling of the situation, calling for emergency arrangements for stranded devotees. “The hungry, thirsty, distressed and tired pilgrims in the traffic jam should be looked at with a humane perspective,” he posted on X. He blamed the Uttar Pradesh government for mismanagement, stating, “The UP government has failed. It exists only in false advertisements but is missing on the ground.”

Yadav also shared a video from Madhya Pradesh showing police advising travelers to avoid heading toward Prayagraj, highlighting the contradiction between BJP-ruled states. “One [government] says come to Maha Kumbh, the other says don’t cross over,” he remarked.

Severe Traffic Congestion Across Uttar Pradesh

Beyond Madya Pradesh, Prayaagraj ITSELF SAW SEVERE CONCERN:

30 km-long jam at nawabganj (Lucknow-Prayagraj Route)

16 km jam at Gauhania (Rewa road)
12-15 km congestion on the Varanasi route
Reports even suggested that crowds had entered train engines due to the overwhelming rush.

Lucknow’s ADCP (Traffic) Kuldeep Singh noted that an unprecedented number of vehicles was attempting to reach the Maha Kumbh site. “The crowd is as large as it was on Mauni Amavasya. The nearest parking lots are small, and even the distant parking areas are 50% full,” he said.

In response, the North Central Railway implemented a one-way traffic system at Prayagraj Junction to manage the rush. Senior railway officials announced that:

Entry will be allowed only from the city side (Platform No. 1), while exits will be directed towards Civil Lines.
Unreserved passengers will be given designated shelters with separate ticketing counters.
Reserved passengers will enter only through Gate No. 5 and will be allowed on platforms just 30 minutes before train arrivals.

Videos circulating on social media show miles-long queues of cars and trucks in Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts. Eyewitnesses claim the traffic jam stretches over 250 km from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district, with many calling it the “biggest traffic jam in the world.”

Stranded devotees described harrowing experiences, with some abandoning their vehicles and proceeding to the Maha Kumbh on foot. With the festival continuing to draw record crowds, officials anticipate ongoing challenges in managing the influx of devotees in the coming days.