Baap Re ! Itna Lamba Jam Nahi dekha hoga aapne
On February 10, 2025, the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, experienced an unprecedented traffic jam stretching up to 300 kilometers, leaving lakhs of pilgrims stranded for hours. The congestion extended to routes from Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, with jams reaching up to 25 kilometers. Inside Prayagraj, traffic was at a standstill, exacerbating the situation.
The gridlock was so severe that it reached into neighboring Madhya Pradesh. In districts like Katni and Maihar, police advised vehicles to return towards Katni and Jabalpur, stating that proceeding to Prayagraj was impossible due to the extensive traffic jam. Eyewitnesses reported massive queues of thousands of cars and trucks across Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts, with some claiming jams stretched across a 250-kilometer stretch from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district.
The influx of pilgrims, especially during the weekend coinciding with Magh Purnima, overwhelmed the infrastructure. Despite efforts to manage the crowd, including special trains and traffic diversions, the sheer number of visitors led to severe congestion. Many devotees were forced to spend the night in their vehicles, with journeys that typically take six hours extending to over 24 hours.
The situation drew criticism from political leaders. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the mismanagement, highlighting that the traffic jams had halted the supply of essential commodities like food grains and vegetables, adding to the woes of both pilgrims and residents of Prayagraj.
Authorities are under pressure to address the crisis promptly. Efforts are underway to manage the traffic and provide relief to the stranded pilgrims. However, the situation remains challenging due to the massive turnout at the Maha Kumbh Mela, which is expected to continue until February 26.
For a visual overview of the situation, you can watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbR8wk9Yyu0
Record-Breaking Traffic Crisis Hits Maha Kumbh Mela
