This weekend’s heavy traffic in Haridwar is being made worse by the surge of people coming for the Char Dham Yatra.
Vehicles have been crawling forward on the national highway since early Sunday morning, seriously upsetting drivers, especially tiny children who are suffering in the intense heat.
Additionally congested are the city’s main intersections, where traffic bottlenecks cause all traffic to stop.
The situation is still chaotic in spite of the efforts of traffic police officers. Right now, Haridwar is completely full of parking spots, which makes things worse by making it harder for cars to find room.
The situation is still chaotic in spite of the efforts of traffic police officers. Right now, Haridwar is completely full of parking spots, which makes things worse by making it harder for cars to find room.
Concerns over emergency response times are raised by the fact that even ambulances are having difficulty navigating through the jam due to the extreme congestion.
It is said to take many hours to simply pass through Haridwar, and the intense heat causes great pain for travelers.
When traveling to Haridwar for a sacred bath from Bahadarabad, Ram Kumar expressed his frustration.
“We have been stuck in this traffic jam for almost an hour. We have small children with us, and on top of that, it’s very hot. We don’t know what to do. There are no other options here right now. We are facing a lot of difficulties. The police are busy trying to clear the traffic, but there are so many people that there’s not much they can do about it,” Kumar said.
Another traveller, Sujata, described the ordeal stating, “We have been stuck in this traffic jam for a very long time, and we have elderly women with us, so we are facing a lot of difficulties. It’s very troublesome for us, and the heat is making it even worse.”
A traveler returning to Noida after visiting Haridwar shared a similar experience.
“We were just returning after our visit, but there is such a huge traffic jam here, and there are no arrangements. Some roads are clearing up a bit, but the jam is extensive. We’ve been stuck for an hour and a half. On top of that, the heat is making it even more difficult. There’s no traffic police here,” the traveller said.
Earlier on May 18, while visiting Garhwal, Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police (DGP), Abhinav Kumar, carried out an unexpected examination of the Bhadrakali check post. He also received input on travel plans from the police in attendance and inspected the Gangotri Yamunotri Yatri Registration Check Center and Tourist Police Assistance Center.
He gave the cops orders to keep the traffic system in working order. Additionally, he emphasized that the devotees’ comfort should be prioritized and that all essential measures should be taken to ensure their well-being.
On May 10, the Char Dham Yatra began in Uttarakhand. In Hinduism, the Char Dham Yatra has great spiritual significance. Usually, this trip takes place in April–May and October–November.
The Char Dham Yatra is thought to be completed in a clockwise manner. Thus, the pilgrimage begins at Yamunotri, continues to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath before ending there. You might choose to finish the trip by air (helicopter services are available) or by road.