Humayun's Babri Masjid event blocks NH-12: Hours-long jam hits Kolkata-bound traffic

What was meant to be a religious ceremony turned into a massive traffic nightmare today as more than thousands poured in for suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's Babri Masjid-style mosque foundation event in Murshidabad's Beldanga. The Kolkata-bound lane of National Highway 12 (earlier NH-34) between Barua More and Rejinagar came to a complete standstill, stretching the jam for several kilometres. Cars, buses, trucks, totos, bikes, cycles came to a standstill while passengers sweated inside with no idea when they would move again. Many gave up waiting and walked 7-8 kilometres to reach home or their destinations, while others cut across farmlands just to get past the chaos.

The venue of the event is barely 300-400 metres from the highway, so supporters parked wherever they found space—right on the road shoulder, in emergency lanes, and even on nearby fields. People were seen carrying bricks on their heads to donate for the mosque construction, adding to the festive yet chaotic scene. Although Bengal police diverted vehicles onto alternative routes much earlier, the sheer volume of crowd overwhelmed every plan.

The Siliguri-bound lane moved slowly but the Kolkata side remained almost fully blocked for hours-long, leaving travellers frustrated and exhausted. As per reports, normal traffic may not resume fully before evening. Long-distance buses were delayed by hours, ambulance movement became risky, and daily commuters faced huge hardship. While the foundation ceremony ended peacefully with massive participation, this highway blockade serves as a stark reminder that even planned events can bring an entire region to a halt when crowds exceed all expectations.