Trying to exit Maha Kumbh, hundreds stuck in Prayagraj traffic snarl for over 30 hours; police say vehicles moving slowly

Thousands Trapped in Prayagraj Traffic Jam During Kumbh mela

The Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, has descended upon Prayagraj, drawing millions of pilgrims to the sacred banks of the Ganges. While the festival is a testament to faith and spirituality, the unprecedented influx of devotees has overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure, leading to a catastrophic traffic jam that has stranded thousands.

On Thursday, January 30, 2025, a sea of vehicles stretched for miles, choked by the sheer volume of pilgrims seeking passage out of the holy city. “We can only see stuck buses as far as we can see. It has been so many hours. We haven’t yet been able to reach the highway. Patience is wearing thin now. Please help us get out of this traffic jam.Hundreds of buses are just stuck here. Thousands of us are stranded,” pleaded Mayank Marda,a 46-year-old businessman from Mumbai,to The Hindu,his voice thick with frustration.

While the Prayagraj district governance insisted that traffic was still moving, this claim was vehemently refuted by eyewitnesses who found themselves trapped at Kotari village on their way out from the Maha Kumbh through the Savai temple parking in Ibrahimpuri. They yearned to reach Kanpur or the nearest highway but were resigned to a standstill.

The chaotic situation proved notably harrowing for the elderly and families with young children who endured the long wait in uncomfortable conditions. Mounting pressure fell upon the authorities to alleviate the traffic bottleneck and ensure the safety and well-being of those stranded.

This catastrophic traffic jam serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by managing massive religious gatherings. As the Kumbh Mela continues, it raises crucial questions about the adequacy of infrastructure and traffic management strategies in ensuring the safety and comfort of millions of pilgrims.

Kumbh Mela Logjam: Pilgrims Stranded in Prayagraj’s Trapped Traffic

The Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage attracting millions, has descended upon Prayagraj, a city on the banks of the holy Ganges. While the event is a momentous occasion for spiritual seekers, a nightmare scenario is unfolding for thousands of pilgrims stranded in a colossal traffic gridlock.

For pilgrim Mr. Mayank Marda,the journey began with hope and anticipation. He and countless others arrived on Mauni Amavasya,the auspicious day celebrated during the Kumbh Mela,to bathe in the sacred confluence of the Ganges,Yamuna,and mythical Saraswati rivers.”Our buses then left the parking lot. We could barely travel two kilometers. We have been stuck in traffic since then.We haven’t moved an inch,” Mr.Marda shared, his voice heavy with frustration.

The traffic jam, stretching for miles, has transformed into a harrowing ordeal for pilgrims who, after a long journey and holy dip, now find themselves immobilized for hours on end.

“We are losing our heads now,” says Abhishek, another pilgrim. “It is important for us to leave from here.We are in distress.”

Social media platforms like Instagram depict the chaotic scene unfolding. miles of stationary cars and buses paint a stark picture of the impasse. Anupama Tikoo, a pilgrim from Gurugram, describes the situation with growing despair.

“everyone around me has started losing their temper. google has gone.There is no internet here. It shows a green screen. We are a group of over 150 people, who have come from different parts of the country. We had left home on January 27th night, to reach Prayagraj on the 28th. Yesterday, we walked over 12 kilometers to reach the parking lot. We are being told that people have slept on the streets,” she reveals.

Despite the dire reports, there are pockets of kindness amidst the chaos. Local villagers have come forward, offering food and water to the stranded pilgrims. However, concerns remain, especially for the elderly and vulnerable travelers who are particularly susceptible to the hardships of being trapped in the gridlock.

“There is concern,” Ms. Tikoo expresses. “I have been told that thousands of buses are stuck. As far as we can see, we only see buses.we are not on the main road. we are on a village road,waiting to hit the highway.”

DIG Prayagraj ajay Pal insists that traffic is moving, albeit at a snail’s pace. he claims, “we attended several complaints of people getting stuck at places for hours, but when the help reached them, it turned out that they were only held up for a couple of hours, which is due to heavy vehicular influx in the city due to Kumbh.” He urges the media to share data of individuals requiring assistance, assuring that the police would provide timely help.

the Kumbh Mela,a profound spiritual journey for millions,has regrettably been marred by logistical challenges. The traffic jam emphasizes the need for robust traffic management strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims who flock to this sacred event.

Kumbh Mela: A Spiritual Journey Marred by Traffic Chaos

For Mr. Marda, a pilgrim who traveled from Mumbai to experience the sacred Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the journey back home turned into a harrowing ordeal.

“We came here to witness the confluence on Mauni Amavasya,” Mr. Marda recounted, his voice filled with both reverence and weariness. “We performed the holy dip,it was truly a spiritual experience. But the journey back has turned into a nightmare.”

the Kumbh Mela, a massive gathering of millions of devotees, inevitably brings with it logistical challenges. This year, the bottleneck at the Prayagraj exit point has brought the area to a standstill. Mr. Marda described the scene as “crippling,” explaining, “We left the parking lot yesterday afternoon, hoping to reach the Kanpur Highway and head back home. We’ve barely moved two kilometres. We’ve been stuck for hours, surrounded by endless rows of buses.

The situation for stranded pilgrims is increasingly desperate. “It’s getting increasingly arduous,” mr. Marda lamented. “Many of us are running low on food and water. The elderly and families with children are struggling the most. We’ve been forced to walk for kilometres just to find our way here.”

Mr.Marda’s plea for help rings out across the chaos: “We are desperate for help. All we ask is for them to prioritize buses and vehicles trying to exit Prayagraj.” He expressed frustration at the lack of concrete data from authorities, stating, “We haven’t received any concrete data. we hope they will act swiftly before this situation escalates further.”

The kumbh Mela, while a testament to faith and devotion, underscores the need for robust infrastructure and efficient traffic management during large-scale religious gatherings. Millions of pilgrims come seeking spiritual fulfillment; their safety and well-being should be paramount. The authorities must act decisively to ensure the smooth and safe movement of pilgrims both to and from the event, preventing future tragedies and ensuring the Kumbh Mela remains a truly sacred and transformative experience.

What measures could be implemented to improve traffic management and infrastructure for future Kumbh Melas,minimizing the risk of such widespread gridlock?

Kumbh Mela traffic Nightmare: An Interview with a Stranded Pilgrim

Thousands of pilgrims are stranded in Prayagraj after a catastrophic traffic jam emerged during the Kumbh Mela. Mayank Marda, a businessman from Mumbai, found himself caught in this logistical nightmare after completing his spiritual journey.Archyde’s team reached out to Mr.Marda to understand his experience and the challenges faced by those trapped in the gridlock.

Mayank, thanks for speaking to us. Can you describe yoru experience during the Kumbh Mela so far?

“it’s been an incredibly spiritual experience. The confluence on Mauni Amavasya was truly awe-inspiring. Millions of peopel together, seeking the same purpose, praying, bathing in the sacred waters. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.”

But the journey back seems to have been quite the opposite?

“Absolutely. We left the parking lot yesterday afternoon, thinking we’d be on the road within a couple of hours. We plunged into a sea of buses and stalled vehicles.We’ve barely moved two kilometres in over eight hours. it’s been incredibly frustrating.”

What are the most pressing issues you and othre pilgrims are facing?

“The lack of details is concerning. We haven’t received any concrete updates about when this gridlock will ease. Food and water are running low. The elderly and families with children are notably struggling. The lack of basic amenities is making this experience harrowing.”

How are you and the other pilgrims coping with this situation?

“Well, the spirit of togetherness that we experienced during the bathing ceremony hasn’t left us. People are sharing whatever resources they have, offering support to each other. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in these challenging circumstances. however, this isn’t a lasting situation. Urgent action is needed.”

What message would you like to send to the authorities?

“We understand that managing the Kumbh Mela is a logistical challenge, but our safety and well-being should be paramount. we need clear interaction, timely updates, and immediate action to clear this traffic jam. Thousands of people, manny of them vulnerable, are stranded here. We need them to act swiftly before the situation worsens further.”

What do you think needs to be done to prevent similar situations in the future ?

“This event requires careful planning and robust infrastructure. Traffic management needs to be significantly improved. The authorities need to invest in better transportation systems and provide adequate support to those attending the Kumbh Mela. ”

Mayank, thank you for sharing your experience. We hope the authorities take swift action to address the situation and ensure the safety of all pilgrims.