5 Lakh Devotees Join Kanwar Yatra In MP's Sehore, Massive Traffic Jam On Indore-Bhopal Highway

Sehore, Madhya Pradesh: Thousands gathered for the Kanwar Yatra, a 11 km pilgrimage from Siwan River to Kubereshwar Dham on Tuesday, resulting in severe traffic jams on the Indore-Bhopal Highway. Even two-wheelers and small vehicles struggled to navigate through the crowds. Heavy vehicles were barred from the route but the sheer number of devotees led to slow-moving traffic at various points.

A devotee from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, had a heart attack during the yatra; despite an ambulance stationed nearby, it could not reach him due to the massive crowd. After a half-hour wait, another devotee carried him on his shoulders to the ambulance, which then transported him to a hospital. The yatra commenced with special prayers by the Siwan River, and to assist the pilgrims, a half-kilometer-long pipeline with over 600 taps was installed.

Hundreds of policemen, including 400 locals and 800 from other districts, were on high alert throughout the event. Traffic was rerouted on the highway, and large parking areas were arranged for the devotees. Over 100 welcome stalls were set up, and tea, snacks, and fruit prasad were distributed. Medical camps and emergency ambulances were positioned at various points along the route.