Prayagraj Traffic Alert: Maha Kumbh Mela Devotees Stranded, Google Maps Also Fails—Watch Video

Prayagraj witnessed severe traffic congestion on Sunday as crores of devotees travelled to the city for the Maha Kumbh Mela. By 6 PM, over 1.42 crore devotees had taken a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam, bringing the total number of pilgrims to more than 42 crore so far, according to a Business Standard report.

Traffic came to a complete standstill for kilometres on the roads leading to Prayagraj. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, police in Maihar reported that traffic jams extended for nearly 200-300 kilometres, making movement towards Prayagraj nearly impossible. Many stranded devotees took to social media to express their frustration, sharing videos of the heavy congestion.

Netizens Reactions On Prayagraj Traffic

One social media user posted, "Guys, #Kumbh is extremely crowded, and the entire #PrayagrajTraffic is chaotic and choked! For the first time, I saw #GoogleNavigation showing the whole route in blue, yet it took nearly 5 HOURS to cover just 15-20 km! So, don't trust Google Navigation! Locals say the crowd surged massively after Feb 5 and is now almost as packed as it was in January! Stay prepared!"

Another user wrote, "It is the reality of Mahakumbh Jam. If you're still thinking about coming to Mahakumbh, have a lot of patience and enough water and food because no one knows how much congestion will be on the road. Everywhere, there are devotees, devotees, and devotees."

A third user described the situation as "probably the biggest traffic jam (15-20 km) in the world," saying, "Kumbh Prayagraj is completely gridlocked. Moved ~5 kms in 5 hours, by this time I should have been in Lucknow. Atrocious traffic management, had to cancel my flight ticket and book another at double the price."

Another post warned, "For those planning to visit Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj this week: Be prepared for massive crowds and long delays. Entry gates are closed 300 km ahead, and the city has a minimum 8-hour traffic jam. Only train, flight, and pedestrian access are manageable. Plan wisely for the holy dip."

A devotee shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter with a caption, "Traffic Jam of 15 KM before Jabalpur ...still 400 KM to prayagraj. Please read traffic situation before coming to Mahakumbh!"

Akhilesh Yadav On Prayagraj Traffic

As the situation worsened, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the government and urged it to take immediate action to assist the stranded devotees. He accused the administration of failing the pilgrims, focusing instead on "false advertisements full of arrogance" while neglecting ground realities.

"The hungry, thirsty, distressed, and tired pilgrims in the traffic jam should be looked at with a humane perspective. Is the common devotee not a human being?" Yadav questioned in his post. He also shared a video of Madhya Pradesh police advising people not to travel to Prayagraj due to the traffic crisis.

Meanwhile, the Prayagraj Sangam railway station was temporarily closed due to the massive crowds outside. The railways imposed entry restrictions at Prayagraj Junction to manage the situation.

Unreserved passengers were allowed to enter only from the city side, while those with reserved tickets could access the platforms through gate 5, but only 30 minutes before their train's arrival.

Authorities are urging devotees to plan their journeys carefully and consider alternative routes or travel options to avoid long delays.