Mon Feb 10 09:29:18 UTC 2025: ## Maha Kumbh Mela: Hundreds of Kilometers of Traffic Jams Strand Thousands
**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India – February 10, 2025** – Massive traffic jams stretching up to 300 kilometers are stranding thousands of devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The gridlock, affecting routes from neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh, has prompted authorities in some districts to halt vehicle movement entirely.
The congestion, which police attribute to a weekend rush, is significantly impacting travel times. One stranded individual reported it taking 10-12 hours to cover just 50 kilometers. Jams of up to 25 kilometers are also reported on routes leading to Prayagraj from major cities like Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, with a seven-kilometer jam even within the city itself.
The situation is so severe that authorities have temporarily closed Prayagraj Sangam railway station due to overcrowding and difficulty for passengers exiting the station. A single-direction traffic system is now in place at Prayagraj Junction station.
Inspector General of Police (Rewa zone) Saket Prakash Pandey stated that the situation is expected to ease within a couple of days, with vehicles being allowed only in coordination with the Prayagraj administration. Despite this, officials estimate that over 46 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the Sangam today, bringing the total number of pilgrims since the Mela began to approximately 44 crore.
The traffic chaos has drawn criticism from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who blamed the Uttar Pradesh government and claimed the situation has caused shortages of essential commodities in Prayagraj. He suggested waiving tolls to ease the congestion.
The unprecedented scale of the Maha Kumbh Mela continues to present significant logistical challenges for authorities in managing the massive influx of pilgrims.
First Piper 