Maha Kumbh stampede: Traffic curbs helped contain chaos but left many stranded

PRAYAGRAJ/KOLKATA: The aftermath of the stampede at Maha Kumbh left hundreds of pilgrims stranded without transportation, food, or shelter Thursday. With trains and buses canceled and roads clogged with cars, many were forced to sleep in the open.
Jaladhar Chatterjee, a 65-year-old from Kolkata, had been traveling in a bus for over 12 hours, covering just 10km. "We barely moved 100 metres at a stretch. I had no food until a co-passenger shared two rotis and vegetables for Rs 100," he said.
For those in private cars, the situation was equally dire. Debika Thakur from Howrah, traveling with her husband, went without a meal for nearly 24 hours. "We left our hotel without lunch, expecting to eat on the road. But there was no food available," she said.
Traffic curbs prevented further chaos after the stampede early Wednesday, with authorities halting over two lakh vehicles heading towards Prayagraj on highways to stop a fresh influx of devotees into the already overcrowded city. More than 7 crore pilgrims had thronged the city for the sacred bathing ritual on Mauni Amavasya.
Pratapgarh police stopped over 10,000 vehicles at designated points along the Pratapgarh-Prayagraj highway and offered refreshments to the devotees. Similarly, Kaushambi police halted several vehicles near eateries to ensure access to food.
However, shops and eateries along the highways were overwhelmed by desperate travellers, with food supplies running out. Many roadside eateries had shut down, while others are charging exorbitant prices.
"Four puris and some vegetables cost Rs 100, but even that is being grabbed instantly," said Magan Debi, a devotee from Gorakhpur.
Many devotees, unable to take a dip on Mauni Amavasya due to the traffic gridlock, reached the ghats late at night or early Thursday.
As senior IPS officers supervised controlled release of vehicles into Prayagraj, police set up additional parking areas in open fields to prevent vehicles from being abandoned along the roads. More than 7 lakh vehicles occupied 125 designated parking areas on Prayagraj's outskirts.
Many pilgrims had no choice but to abandon their cars and proceed on foot toward Sangam. "Our vehicle was stuck near Phaphamau for hours. We managed to reach tent city by evening and finally took our holy dip," said Munna Tiwari from Amethi.