Kanwariyas’ celebration at Bastara toll plaza leads to traffic jam on NH-44

An unusual scene unfolded late Saturday night at Bastara toll plaza, where scores of Kanwariyas danced to loud DJ music on National Highway-44, causing a massive traffic jam.

Accompanied by loud music, fireworks from Bullet bikes and flashing lights, these Kanwariyas brought the busy highway to a standstill for around 25 minutes.

Their celebration led to the complete obstruction of traffic at one of the busiest toll plazas on NH-44, which witnesses the passage of thousands of vehicles daily. A video of the incident, showing Kanwariyas dancing and blocking the road, has gone viral on social media, highlighting the inconvenience caused to commuters and the challenges faced by the police during the Kanwar Yatra.

The police tried to restore normalcy by explaining the inconvenience being caused to the general public, but the Kanwariyas refused to comply immediately, continuing their celebration. Several commuters were stuck on both sides of the highway, with many complaining of delays and anger—especially those travelling with families and elderly passengers.

As per the eyewitnesses, the group of Kanwariyas stopped at the toll plaza, parked their vehicles and began dancing in the middle of the road. However, no public property was damaged.

“Nobody seemed to care about the traffic or the inconvenience being caused to others. They were completely lost in their celebration,” a commuter said.

After receiving the information, Madhuban police reached the spot, dispersed the crowd and restored normalcy. The police acknowledged the incident and emphasised that road safety rules must be followed.

“Kanwariyas caused inconvenience to the public for some time. When the police arrived, they moved on towards their destination,” said Gaurav Kumar, SHO, Madhuban. “We will ensure tighter security during the Kanwar Yatra to prevent such disruptions in the future,” he added.

Haryana Tribune