Allahabad gridlocked as devotees rush back home after Magh Purnima snan

Allahabad: Devotees and kalpwasis rushing back home after taking a dip in Sangam on Magh Purnima triggered yet traffic jams on several routes of the city on Sunday.
The rush of devotees hurrying back to their native towns and homes led to traffic snarls in routes near Shastri Bridge, Baihrana and Alopibagh. Some of these roads were choked due to movement of several tractor trolleys.
Apart from routes connecting Sangam and Magh Mela ground to the city, Phaphamau on Lucknow–Allahabad highway was chock-a-block with vehicles as visitors from districts like Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Lucknow, Amethi and Rai Bareilly hurried back home.
Traffic inspector Harendra Singh said, “Several roads in Allahaabd were congested due to the large number of devotees retruning home, escpecially kalpwasis, from the Magh Mela ground.”
He also said that the devotees returning in tractor trolleys with their baggage added to the chaos on roads. The diversions introduced in view of the Magh Purnima snan did little to control the traffic mayhem.
Kalpwasis returning from the Magh Mela ground, meanwhile, blamed the chaos on roads on traffic police.
“We had planned to return to our native town in Mirzapur after the Magh Purnima snan. However, we were trapped in a traffic jam for more than two hours near Shastri Bridge. A few pilgrims were also stuck in a snarl for over an hour near New Sohbatiyabagh Road as well,” said one of the kalpwasis Atul Pandey.
Aditi, a devotee from Lucknow who was in Allahabad to visit the Magh Mela, said, “We were stuck in a snarl for over an hour near Baihrana.”
Sunday’s jam is not an isolated occurrence. The city has been reeling under traffic jams almost every weekend ever since the Magh Mela started.
Another commuter Harsh Mehrotra said, “It’s just like last Sunday and the one before that. My family and I were on our way to Jhunsi, but we were trapped in a jam. Meanwhile, the police did little as taxi and cab driver brazenly flouted traffic norms.”
Vehicles moved at snail’s pace near Baihrana, Alopibgah, Shastri Bridge and Daraganj throughout the day.
Traffic movement was worst hit between 11am and 6pm.