Massive Traffic Gridlock Hits Badrinath Pilgrimage Route
Thousands of pilgrims travelling to Badrinath faced severe delays after a massive traffic jam stretched for nearly 30 kilometres, leaving many stranded for hours without basic facilities.
- Badrinath pilgrimage route faces huge traffic jam.
- Badrinath pilgrims remain stranded for hours.
- Traffic gridlock stretches nearly 30 kilometres.
Thousands of devotees heading to the sacred Badrinath shrine are facing major travel difficulties as an enormous traffic jam has brought movement to a near standstill on the pilgrimage route in Uttarakhand. The congestion has extended for almost 30 kilometres near Joshimath in Chamoli district, causing long delays for travellers.
Authorities said the situation worsened due to the simultaneous flow of pilgrims visiting both the Char Dham circuit and Hemkund Sahib. The unexpected surge in visitors has placed heavy pressure on the narrow mountain roads, leading to severe bottlenecks at several key locations, including Vishnuprayag.
Many pilgrims have been stranded inside vehicles for several hours with limited access to food, drinking water and other essential services. Families, elderly travellers and children have been among those most affected as vehicles remained stuck in long queues across the route.
The traffic situation became particularly challenging near the Zero Bend area close to Joshimath, where vehicle queues reportedly stretched for several kilometres in a single day. Videos showing endless lines of vehicles and frustrated pilgrims have been widely shared on social media.
The heavy congestion has also affected emergency services. Ambulances and other essential vehicles have struggled to move through the crowded route, raising concerns among authorities managing the pilgrimage season.
Officials and police personnel have intensified efforts to ease the traffic flow. To manage the rush, authorities have implemented a gate system under which vehicles are allowed to move in one direction at a time. Traffic is being released at regular intervals to gradually reduce the backlog.
Police have advised pilgrims planning to visit Badrinath to check travel conditions before starting their journey and strictly follow official instructions. With large numbers of devotees continuing to arrive, authorities expect traffic management operations to remain in place until the congestion eases.
