Massive Devotee Influx at Kainchi Dham Triggers Major Traffic Gridlock on Nainital-Almora Highway

A large number of devotees visiting the Baba Neem Karoli Ashram at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand caused severe traffic disruptions on Saturday along the Nainital-Almora highway. Vehicles began piling up from early morning, affecting private cars, buses, tourist vehicles, two-wheelers and cargo carriers. Passengers remained stuck for extended periods with limited access to food and water.

The congestion left elderly passengers and children facing particular hardship. Some travellers abandoned their journeys in frustration, while a woman travelling towards Haldwani expressed anger at being stopped by authorities despite the presence of elderly people and children in vehicles. The traffic situation raised concerns about crowd management during peak pilgrimage periods at the ashram.