The Maha Kumbh fair, which began on January 13 and will continue until February 26, has drawn millions of devotees. As the world’s largest religious gathering, the Kumbh Mela requires extensive administrative arrangements at every level to ensure the smooth conduct of the sacred event.
There have been reports of an overwhelming rush of devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh venue by road, air, and train, creating challenges for authorities managing the influx.
According to media reports, countless people remain stuck on roads leading to the mela, with traffic congestion resembling an unending sea of vehicles around Prayagraj. The gridlock has reportedly stretched over 300 km, blocking major routes and leaving thousands of vehicles stranded. Some have even described it as the world’s biggest traffic jam.
“It is impossible to move towards Prayagraj today as there is a traffic jam of 200-300 kilometres,” police said.
Several videos on social media showed massive queues of thousands of cars and trucks on roads across Katni, Maihar and Rewa districts in MP. Eyewitnesses claimed huge traffic jams across a 250-km stretch from Katni to MP-UP borders at Chakghat in Rewa district.
Eyewitnesses claimed vehicles are stuck in traffic jams for 48 hours.
“It is taking almost 10-12 hours to cover a 50-km distance,” a man claimed. Police said they are stopping vehicles at different spots to prevent crowding at MP-UP borders.
Meanwhile, the Rewa district administration stated that the flow of pilgrims toward Prayagraj remains steady, putting continuous pressure on the Rewa-Prayagraj route.
As crowds surged beyond Chakghat, vehicles were halted there and at other points, according to an official release from the Rewa district office. An official noted that a large number of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the highway leading to Prayagraj.
Rewa District Collector Pratibha Pal said they are coordinating with the Prayagraj administration to manage the situation. She confirmed that vehicles were stuck due to heavy crowds on the highway and assured that arrangements were being made for the safe stay, food, and water for those stranded in traffic.
Overall, more than 42 crore devotees have so far taken a dip in Ganga and Sangam while more than 1.42 crore devotees took bath in Ganga and Sangam till 6 pm on Sunday, February 9, according to the data released by the fair administration.