Prayagraj Traffic Update: Thousands Stranded As Maha Kumbh Mela Rush Clogs NH-30

A severe traffic jam has developed on National Highway 30 due to the increasing crowd of devotees heading towards Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela, according to Amar Ujala report. To manage the situation, authorities have resumed stopping vehicles at several points along the route. The traffic restrictions have led to vehicles being halted in Katni, Maihar, and Rewa, leaving thousands of people stranded overnight.

According to reports, it takes four to five hours for vehicles to cover just one or two kilometres. Police personnel, led by Amarpatan TI KP Tripathi, have set up barricades near Kharamseda to control the flow of traffic. As a result, long queues of vehicles, stretching up to three kilometres, have formed on the highway.

Photo Credit: PTI

Devotees travelling to Prayagraj are facing significant difficulties. As per Amar Ujala, TI KP Tripathi explained that vehicles are being allowed to proceed gradually to prevent congestion from worsening. Meanwhile, officials anticipate an increase in the number of devotees gathering in Maihar, the city of Maa Sharda. In response, the administration has been placed on high alert. SDM Vikas Singh has assured that all necessary administrative measures have been taken.

Barricades Set Up In Multiple Locations

In light of the heavy rush of devotees, authorities have erected temporary toll barriers at three key locations in Maihar: near Maihar's hill, Amdara, and Amarpatan. Vehicles are being stopped and released in a phased manner to ease congestion. A strong police presence has been deployed across multiple locations to maintain order and improve the traffic situation.

Over 7,000 Vehicles Stuck

NH-30 serves as the primary route for pilgrims travelling from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and other states to Prayagraj. As a result, the highway has been overwhelmed with thousands of vehicles. By nightfall, over 10,000 vehicles were reportedly stranded in the jam, with authorities working to clear them one by one.

Authorities Recommendations

Due to worsening conditions, Katni police have placed barricades on the highway and urged travellers to postpone their journey. Officials have warned of heavy congestion at the toll plazas ahead. Pilgrims who have set out for Maha Kumbh have been advised to wait for a few days and monitor updates from news channels before resuming their journey.

A massive three-kilometre-long jam has been reported on the Katni-Jabalpur stretch of NH-30, where thousands of vehicles from across India remain stuck. Katni Traffic Police Station In-Charge, Rahul Pandey, along with his team, has taken to the roads, using loudspeakers to inform and persuade travellers to delay their journey. While some people have heeded the advice and turned back, many others have chosen to move forward despite the warnings. Pandey stated that thousands of vehicles and lakhs of devotees are arriving in Prayagraj daily, causing severe congestion. To mitigate the problem, authorities have taken steps to regulate traffic movement.

Traffic Gridlock In Rewa

The situation is similar on the MP-UP border, where a 10-kilometre-long jam has formed due to halted vehicles. Many travellers have been stranded since the previous night. Authorities have started releasing vehicles slowly to prevent further congestion. As the number of devotees travelling to Prayagraj surged, the administration implemented emergency measures. On Friday alone, approximately 14,000 vehicles passed through the Sohagi toll plaza within six hours. Seeing the increasing crowd, officials ordered the stoppage of vehicles in Madhya Pradesh from 3:00 AM on Saturday. By morning, the jam had extended to nearly 20 kilometres.

Authorities have stated that vehicles will only be allowed to proceed once the situation in Prayagraj improves. Until then, devotees are advised to remain patient and follow official guidelines to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.