Maha Kumbh Chaos: 300-km Traffic Gridlock Leaves Pilgrims Stranded for Hours

A massive 300-kilometer-long traffic jam turned the roads leading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, into virtual parking lots on Sunday. Lakhs of pilgrims, eager to attend the world’s largest religious gathering, were stranded for hours in their vehicles hundreds of kilometers from the event site.

The unprecedented congestion dubbed the “world’s biggest traffic jam” by netizens, stretched across 200-300 km, primarily affecting routes through Madhya Pradesh. The situation forced authorities to halt traffic across multiple districts, causing hours-long standstills. On Saturday, officials had already begun stopping hundreds of vehicles heading towards Prayagraj from various locations in Madhya Pradesh to prevent further overcrowding, as per a report by PTI.

With roads completely choked, police in Katni district made public announcements informing travelers that traffic movement would remain suspended until Monday. In Maihar, authorities redirected vehicles back towards Katni and Jabalpur, advising people to seek shelter.

“It is impossible to move towards Prayagraj today as a 200-300 km traffic jam has brought the movement to a halt,” police officials were quoted as saying in the PTI report.

Social Media Flooded With Complaints

Numerous videos circulating online captured long queues of cars and trucks stretching across the Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts. Eyewitnesses reported that a 250-km-long snarl extended from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district.

Frustrated travelers took to social media to share their ordeal.

• “Traffic jam of 15 km before Jabalpur… still 400 km to Prayagraj. Please check the traffic situation before heading to Maha Kumbh!” wrote one user.
• “Probably the biggest traffic jam in the world! Stuck in a 15-20 km gridlock at Kumbh… Prayagraj is completely blocked,” another posted around 4:30 AM on Monday.
• _”Moved just 5 km in 5 hours. By now, I should have reached Lucknow! Terrible traffic management—had to cancel my flight and rebook at double the price.”_

Authorities Respond to Crisis

Inspector General of Police (Rewa zone) Saket Prakash Pandey acknowledged that the surge of pilgrims led to massive congestion but assured that the situation would improve in the coming days. He stated that Madhya Pradesh Police is coordinating with the Prayagraj administration to regulate traffic flow.

Many pilgrims reportedly remained stuck for nearly 48 hours, with travel times skyrocketing—covering just 50 km taking up to 12 hours. Police said vehicles were being held at various checkpoints to prevent further crowding at the MP-UP border.

The Rewa district administration confirmed that the influx of devotees had not slowed, intensifying congestion on the Rewa-Prayagraj highway. Vehicles were stopped at multiple locations, including Chakghat, as the roads became overwhelmed. An official release noted that highways in both directions remained packed with vehicles.

Rewa District Collector Pratibha Pal assured that authorities were making arrangements for stranded travelers, including food, water, and safe resting areas.

Political Appeal for Assistance

Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma urged party workers to assist pilgrims facing difficulties during their journey to Maha Kumbh.

“All workers are requested to help devotees passing through their areas in every possible way. Provide food and shelter if needed. Let us ensure they do not face any hardship on their sacred journey,” Sharma posted on X.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13 and will conclude on February 26, has already witnessed over 40 crore visitors from across India and abroad. Pilgrims continue to arrive in large numbers to take the holy dip at the Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers—despite the traffic chaos.