Muharram Procession in Sabour: Massive Crowd on NH 80 Leads to Hours-Long Traffic Jam
Sabour (Bhagalpur): On Friday, traffic movement on NH 80 near the Sabour High School intersection was completely paralyzed due to a massive gathering of people on the occasion of Muharram. As Tazia processions were taken out to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala, the main road witnessed long queues of vehicles, causing significant distress to local residents and commuters.
The Pressure of Processions and Traffic
On the 10th day of Muharram, Tazia processions were taken out from various parts of Sabour, moving along designated routes. As these processions reached NH 80 near the Sabour High School intersection, a huge crowd of devotees gathered. The situation became further complicated as the movement of heavy commercial vehicles and trucks continued on the highway simultaneously.
With both the crowd and heavy vehicles occupying the road, a major portion of the highway became obstructed. Within minutes, the movement of vehicles traveling from Sabour towards Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon came to a complete standstill. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the road, leading to a traffic jam that lasted for several hours.
Commuters and Locals Faced Inconvenience
The most affected by the sweltering heat and the traffic jam were bus passengers, school students, and people traveling to their destinations for essential work. Trapped in the gridlock for hours, people were unable to reach their destinations on time. The road remained in a state of chaos, with the area echoing with the constant sound of vehicle horns.
Administrative Intervention and Efforts
Upon receiving news of the gridlock, the local police became active. A police force, led by the Sabour Station House Officer (SHO), reached the spot and began efforts to control the situation. The police had to work hard to streamline traffic flow. The administration attempted to divert heavy vehicles through alternative routes to reduce the pressure on the main thoroughfare. However, due to the density of the crowd, it took a long time for the traffic to return to normal.
Procession Concluded Amidst Security
Even though traffic was disrupted, the Muharram procession concluded with full reverence and peace. Youths participating in the procession displayed martial arts feats with traditional weapons and raised chants of 'Ya Hussain'. Under police surveillance, the Tazia procession moved forward along the designated routes from the Imambara and finally concluded at the Karbala grounds.
Local residents noted that such pressure on busy highways like NH 80 is often seen during Muharram, which necessitates a more effective traffic diversion plan in advance. The administration claimed that traffic returned to complete normalcy by late evening after the conclusion of the procession.
