PRAYAGRAJ: President Droupadi Murmu reached just now Prayagraj today, February 10, to participate in the ongoing Maha Kumbh festivities, where she will take a sacred dip at the Triveni Sangam. During her 8-hour visit, the President also visited the famous Akshayavat tree, and offered prayers at the Bade Hanuman Temple, seeking prosperity for the nation.
Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, President Murmu reached Triveni Sangam, where she is set to perform a ceremonial dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
After the sacred dip, the President will visit the revered Akshayavat tree, a symbol of eternal life in Sanatan culture, and offer prayers.
World’s Biggest Traffic Jam: Pilgrims Stuck for Hours on Their Way to Maha Kumbh
Ahead of President Murmus's reaching, on Sunday a massive traffic jam, stretching 200-300 km, caused chaos in Madhya Pradesh as thousands of pilgrims traveled to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela. The gridlock brought vehicles to a complete stop, leaving people stranded for hours.
Traffic Brought to a Halt
Police in Katni announced that traffic would remain suspended until Monday. Meanwhile, officials in Maihar advised drivers to turn back toward Katni and Jabalpur. “There’s no way to move towards Prayagraj today due to the extreme congestion,” authorities said.
The heavy rush of devotees also created problems in Prayagraj. By 6 p.m. on Sunday, more than 1.42 crore people had taken a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam. In total, over 42 crore pilgrims have already bathed at the fair. The huge crowd led to overcrowding, forcing railway officials to shut down Prayagraj Sangam railway station.
Severe Traffic Congestion
16 km jam at Gauhania (Rewa road) 12-15 km jam on the Varanasi route Some reports even claim people entered train engines due to the overwhelming rush.
To control the situation, North Central Railway introduced a one-way traffic system at Prayagraj Junction:
Entry only from the city side (Platform No. 1) Exit directed towards Civil Lines
Unreserved passengers to use separate shelters and ticket counters
Reserved passengers to enter only through Gate No. 5, with access to platforms just 30 minutes before train arrivals
Videos circulating online show long lines of vehicles in Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts. Eyewitnesses say the jam stretches over 250 km, from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district. Many are calling it the “biggest traffic jam in the world.”
Stranded devotees shared their struggles, with some leaving their vehicles behind and walking towards Maha Kumbh. With more people arriving, officials expect further challenges in managing the crowd in the coming days.