The surge of devotees heading to the Maha Kumbh has resulted in unprecedented traffic snarls, leaving thousands stranded on highways stretching towards Prayagraj. Reports indicate that the logjam extends for nearly 300 kilometers, turning major routes into motionless lanes of vehicles.
Despite assumptions that crowds would dwindle after Basant Panchami’s Amrit Snan, the opposite has happened. Instead of thinning out, devotees are still arriving in massive numbers to take a holy dip at the Sangam. With the grand event set to conclude on February 26, officials estimate that over 50 crore pilgrims-almost one-third of India’s population-will have participated, making it the largest human gathering in history.
Shishir Kumar, Director of Information, revealed that as of February 9, a staggering 43.57 crore devotees had already taken part in the sacred ritual. “Our initial projections were between 40-45 crore, but given the current influx, we are now expecting to cross the 50-crore mark. This is truly a historic moment,” he said.
The pilgrimage rush has transformed highways into endless parking lots, with vehicles crawling at a snail’s pace for up to 25 kilometers. Bottlenecks have been reported on key routes from Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Rewa, stranding travelers for hours without basic amenities like food and water.
UB Singh, a devotee from Lucknow, abandoned his trip midway. “The gridlock was unbearable. There was no water, and roadside vendors were exploiting the situation by charging Rs 50 for a bottle instead of Rs 20. I had no choice but to turn back,” he lamented.
Sanat Chatterjee, who traveled from Kolkata, endured an 18-hour ordeal just to reach Prayagraj. “The exhaustion was unimaginable. There was nowhere to rest, but after coming this far, I had to push through,” he said.
Even seasoned travelers were caught off guard. Senior journalist Hemant Tiwari, who frequently commutes between Lucknow and Prayagraj, shared his experience: “A four-hour journey took me 13 hours this time. The last 50 kilometers were absolute chaos.”
The surge in pilgrim numbers comes despite initial setbacks following the tragic Mauni Amavasya stampede on January 29, which claimed 30 lives. Fear had led to a lower-than-expected turnout in the following days-7.5 crore instead of the expected 10 crore on Mauni Amavasya, and only 2.5 crore on Basant Panchami against a projected 4 crore. However, the numbers have now rebounded, surpassing earlier estimates.
Railway Disruptions and Desperate Commuters: Given the overwhelming crowds, railway authorities have taken drastic measures to prevent congestion. Kuldeep Tiwari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway Lucknow, announced that Prayagraj Sangam railway station will remain shut until February 14. “This step was necessary to prevent overcrowding and ensure smooth passenger movement,” he said.
Trains bound for Prayagraj are operating beyond capacity. At Varanasi, desperate women climbed into a train engine and locked the doors after failing to find seats. In Hardoi, frustrated devotees resorted to vandalism when train doors remained shut, further escalating the chaos.
Meena Sharma, a social activist volunteering at the Kumbh, described the distressing scenes at railway stations. “Elderly people fainting, children crying from hunger and exhaustion-it’s heartbreaking. The administration needs to step up and ensure that basic necessities are available for all,” she said.
The fluctuating crowd numbers have also had a direct impact on local businesses. Harjinder Singh, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Prayagraj, noted a slump in business after the January 29 stampede. “Many restaurants and hotels saw a sharp decline in customers. But now, with devotees returning in huge numbers, business is finally picking up,” he said.
As the Maha Kumbh nears its conclusion, the administration is on high alert, navigating one of the most extraordinary logistical challenges in history. With another massive wave of pilgrims expected in the final days, Prayagraj is witnessing a spectacle of faith, resilience, and human endurance like never before.
Meanwhile, the Railways dismissed Prayagraj station closure reports as mere rumours and said that trains operations are smooth and well-organised from all eight stations in the area. Talking to the media in the Rail Bhawan here, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that devotees shouldn’t believe in rumours regarding station closure.
“Train operations are smooth and very well-organised on all eight stations in Prayagraj. Railways is working with the state administrations in a very coordinated manner,” Vaishnaw said.
Vaishnaw also visited the War Room, set up in the Rail Bhawan before the Kumbh Mela started to monitor the stations through live feeds, to review the train services and passenger amenities.
