People occupy engine of MahaKumbh train at Varanasi station and lock it from inside: Watch viral video

A special Kumbh Mela train, departing from Varanasi Cantt to Prayagraj, faced an alarming incident of overcrowding late Saturday night, with passengers even occupying the engine. The train, which was already packed beyond capacity, was preparing to depart around 1:30 AM from platform number 2 when passengers started climbing onto the engine.

Despite the train being full, with no available space inside, passengers began to board the engine, blocking the train's driver from accessing it. Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers were called to the scene to intervene. Initially, the officers requested that passengers disembark from the engine, but their pleas were ignored. Subsequently, RPF officers had to physically remove the passengers from the engine, a scene that was captured in a video and shared widely on social media.

The train was finally able to depart once the engine was cleared. This incident highlights the continuing strain on transportation systems due to the massive crowds heading to Prayagraj, even after the main Kumbh Mela bathing days had ended.

Massive 300-km Traffic Jams Block Access to Prayagraj from MP

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, severe traffic jams stretching up to 200-300 kilometers have disrupted travel to Prayagraj, forcing local police to halt traffic movement in several districts on Sunday. On the previous day, hundreds of vehicles heading towards Prayagraj were stopped across Madhya Pradesh to prevent overcrowding.

In the Katni district, police announced the closure of traffic until Monday, urging vehicles to turn back towards Katni and Jabalpur. Police vehicles made loudspeaker announcements, warning travelers that it was impossible to continue towards Prayagraj due to the congestion.

Videos circulating on social media depicted the massive traffic buildup, which netizens are calling the "biggest traffic jam in the world." Eyewitnesses reported being stuck for hours in the 250-km stretch of traffic from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district.

Authorities Provide Updates on Traffic Situation

In-charge Inspector General of Police (Rewa zone), Saket Prakash Pandey, acknowledged the heavy traffic caused by the Sunday rush. He reassured the public that the situation should improve in a couple of days, with MP Police working in coordination with the Prayagraj administration to allow vehicles to move.

However, the Rewa district administration noted that the flow of pilgrims to Prayagraj has remained high, continuing to put pressure on the Rewa-Prayagraj route. As a result, vehicles were halted in several locations, including Chakghat, as the situation remains tense.