Massive Traffic Jam Near Joshimath Leaves Badrinath Pilgrims Stranded Amid Heavy Rush | Video

Last Updated:May 30, 2026, 16:46 IST

Massive traffic congestion near Joshimath in Chamoli stranded thousands of Badrinath pilgrims, with vehicle queues stretching kilometres as Char Dham Yatra rush intensifies.

Thousands of pilgrims travelling to Badrinath Dham faced severe difficulties on Saturday after massive traffic congestion brought movement to a near standstill near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.

According to local reports, long queues of vehicles stretched across several kilometres on the Badrinath route as an overwhelming number of devotees headed towards the shrine during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra season.

Videos circulating on social media showed vehicles crawling through narrow mountain roads, with many pilgrims reportedly stranded for hours between Joshimath, Vishnuprayag and nearby stretches of the highway. Some reports suggested traffic congestion extended for over 20 to 30 kilometres in certain sections.

The rush has intensified as the pilgrimage season gathers momentum, with lakhs of devotees arriving in Uttarakhand to visit the Char Dham shrines, particularly Badrinath, one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage destinations in the Himalayas.

Tourists and pilgrims reported significant delays, with many struggling to find food, rest stops and parking space amid the gridlock. The situation was further complicated by the region’s narrow mountain roads, where even minor disruptions can quickly lead to long traffic backups.

Authorities deployed police personnel and traffic management teams at key points along the route to regulate vehicle movement and ease congestion. Officials have urged travellers to follow advisories and plan journeys carefully as heavy pilgrim inflow continues.

Traffic pressure on routes leading to Badrinath has been building steadily over the past several weeks, with multiple reports of congestion, vehicle queues and travel delays during weekends and peak pilgrimage days.

The Char Dham Yatra, which includes Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, attracts millions of pilgrims every year, making crowd and traffic management one of the biggest logistical challenges during the pilgrimage season.

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