Mahakumbh crowds choke Prayagraj, 300 km jam, Sangam station shut till Feb 14

The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has drawn a massive crowd, causing severe congestion across major routes. Traffic jams of 10 to 15 kilometers have been reported on roads leading from Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Rewa. A 300-kilometer-long traffic jam has been recorded from Katni (Madhya Pradesh) to Prayagraj, with thousands of vehicles stranded. Officials have been deployed to regulate traffic, and diversions have been implemented on multiple routes. Over 43.57 crore devotees have taken a dip in the Ganges since the start of the Kumbh.

To manage the crowd, Prayagraj Sangam Railway Station has been closed until February 14. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Kuldeep Tiwari stated that the step was taken to prevent overcrowding. An emergency crowd management plan has been implemented at Prayagraj Junction, with additional security and railway personnel deployed to handle passenger movement. Train schedules have been adjusted, and alternative routes are being used to manage the rush.

Traffic police and security forces have been stationed at key congestion points, and additional measures are being taken to regulate movement. Several roads have been designated as one-way to ease congestion. Checkpoints have been set up to manage incoming traffic, and local administration has issued advisories urging people to avoid non-essential travel. Transport services, including buses and private vehicles, are facing delays and diversions due to the ongoing congestion.