Rishikesh traffic jams spike as weekend pilgrim influx overwhelms roads

Rishikesh in Uttarakhand saw a sharp rise in traffic over the weekend as thousands of pilgrims and tourists arrived for the Char Dham Yatra. Vehicles on key routes, notably the Rishikesh‑Haridwar‑Delhi Highway, moved slowly, causing congestion for commuters and visitors.

Police deployed at major intersections managed flow through diversions and a new bypass at Chatti, handling an estimated 20,000‑25,000 vehicles. Officials said traffic remained under control despite the surge. The pilgrimage, which began on April 19, has already attracted more than 1.26 million devotees, with hundreds of thousands visiting each of the four shrines.

Authorities urged drivers to follow regulations and use alternate routes to ease the pressure.