40-km-long traffic jams Kumbh entry

DESPITE the completion of three Amrit Snans on Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, and Basant Panchami—when millions took a holy dip at the Sangam—the continuous influx of devotees is causing significant disruptions in Prayagraj and other destinations, including Ayodhya and Kashi, resulting in long hours of traffic jams.

- NAMITA BAJPAI @Lucknow

Prayagraj is witnessing frenzied crowds of devotees jostling for the holy dip at the Sangam, setting records in congregations with each passing day.

For 27 days, the influx of devotees has breached an average of one crore footfall on the mela premises. The average footfall stands at 1.44 crore on a daily basis. Till Monday afternoon, over 44.50 crore people had already taken the holy dip at Triveni since January 13—the day of the inauguration of Mahakumbh.

The unprecedented rush of devotees from across India and abroad has resulted in massive traffic jams—as long as 40 km—not only in and around Prayagraj but also in adjoining states like Madhya Pradesh, where people spend 10–15 hours in vehicles stuck in traffic.