Devotee Rush at Kainchi Dham Triggers Hours-Long Traffic Gridlock on Nainital-Almora Highway
A large crowd of devotees at Kainchi Dham's Neem Karoli ashram caused severe traffic congestion on the Nainital-Almora highway on Saturday, stranding tourists, buses and local passengers for hours.
Current Summary
A surge of devotees arriving at the Baba Neem Karoli Ashram in Kainchi Dham caused severe traffic congestion on the Nainital-Almora highway on Saturday, affecting passengers, tourists and local residents. Vehicles began piling up from early morning, with long queues reported at several points and traffic remaining stationary for hours. The congestion affected private vehicles, passenger buses, tourist vehicles, two-wheelers and cargo carriers travelling between Nainital and Almora districts. Many passengers were left without access to food or water during the prolonged wait, and some travellers eventually abandoned their journeys and turned back. A woman travelling from the hills toward Haldwani said she was stopped by authorities in the Khairna area and questioned the decision to halt vehicles despite elderly people and children being among the passengers.
What We Know
- A large crowd of devotees at the Kainchi Dham ashram caused traffic to back up on the Nainital-Almora highway from early Saturday morning.
- Buses, tourist vehicles, two-wheelers and cargo carriers were all affected, with vehicles stationary for extended periods.
- Passengers reported being stranded without food or water, and some abandoned their journeys.
- A woman travelling toward Haldwani said she was stopped by authorities at Khairna despite having elderly and child passengers in her vehicle.
What Is Still Unclear
- How long the congestion lasted or when normal traffic flow resumed.
- Whether police or district authorities issued any alternate route advisory.
- The total number of vehicles or people affected.
Travelers on the Nainital-Almora highway, especially near Kainchi Dham and Khairna, should expect delays and carry food and water, particularly if travelling with elderly passengers or children.
What Changed
- 3 Oct, 03:01 pmSignal detected: Devotee Rush at Kainchi Dham Triggers Hours-Long Traffic Gridlock on Nainital-Almora Highway