A traffic jam stretching nearly 2 kilometres was reported at the Chakghat border between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on National Highway-30 after trucks were stopped from entering Prayagraj amid arrangements for the ongoing Kanwar Yatra.

The queue of vehicles began building up on Wednesday evening after restrictions on truck movement towards Prayagraj came into effect. By Thursday morning, the line had extended to around two kilometres, with the congestion continuing for more than 12 hours.

Trucks Stranded at Chakghat

According to truck drivers, restrictions were imposed on the movement of heavy vehicles towards Prayagraj as the number of Kanwariyas in the city increased. With trucks unable to proceed towards Uttar Pradesh, several vehicles accumulated at the Chakghat border.

The congestion affected traffic moving between Rewa and Prayagraj, with drivers facing delays while waiting for movement to resume.

Administration Moves to Ease Traffic

Following reports of the congestion, police and administrative teams reached the spot and began managing traffic. Vehicles were being allowed to move forward gradually in an effort to reduce the length of the queue.

However, a large number of trucks remained stranded at the border as restrictions on their entry into Prayagraj continued.

Only Trucks Stopped, Says Police

Rewa Additional Superintendent of Police Sandeep Mishra said the restrictions were limited to trucks and that other vehicles were being allowed to move.

He said the decision was linked to traffic management arrangements for the Kanwar Yatra in Prayagraj. Police and administrative teams were present at Chakghat to regulate traffic and prevent further congestion.

According to the official clarification, passenger vehicles and other permitted traffic were not subject to the same restriction, allowing regular movement to continue.

Kanwar Yatra Drives Traffic Restrictions

The annual Kanwar Yatra has led authorities in several areas along major routes to introduce temporary traffic-management measures as large numbers of devotees travel towards religious destinations.

With Prayagraj witnessing increased movement of Kanwariyas, restrictions on heavy vehicles are intended to reduce pressure on roads and maintain smoother movement for pilgrims and other road users.

For truck operators, however, the restrictions have resulted in extended waiting periods at the MP-UP border.

Traffic Situation Being Monitored

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation at Chakghat and regulate the movement of vehicles. The administration is also working to clear the accumulated traffic and prevent the queue from extending further.

While the congestion has caused inconvenience to truck drivers and commuters, officials have maintained that the restriction is specifically aimed at heavy vehicles entering Prayagraj and that other traffic remains operational.

Aban Ahmed, the youngest son of slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, was killed in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district on Thursday morning while travelling to meet his elder brother, Ali Ahmed, who is lodged in Jhansi Jail.

The 21-year-old was travelling from Prayagraj in a Creta SUV along with four friends when the vehicle crashed into a road divider in the Poonch police station area, around 70 kilometres before Jhansi.

Two Killed, Three Injured

The accident occurred at around 10.30 am. According to police, the SUV rammed into the divider with considerable force, leaving its front portion completely damaged and trapping all five occupants inside.

Police personnel, assisted by local residents, broke open the vehicle's doors to rescue those trapped.

Aban Ahmed, who was seated in the front passenger seat, and the driver, identified as Sonu, died at the scene. Three other occupants—Umar Ahmed, Mohammad Zaid and Aslam—sustained injuries and were shifted to the district hospital for treatment.

Cause of Crash Under Investigation

Authorities are examining the exact cause of the accident as differing accounts have emerged.

One of the injured occupants reportedly told investigators that the SUV lost control after hitting bricks lying on the highway.

Police, however, said the preliminary investigation suggests the driver lost control while attempting to avoid an animal that suddenly came onto the road.

Officials added that the vehicle was travelling at a high speed when the accident occurred. The rain-soaked highway may also have contributed to the crash.

Eyewitness Recounts High-Speed Collision

An eyewitness, Deepak Yadav, claimed the SUV was moving at a very high speed before the collision.

According to him, the driver first swerved to avoid a calf crossing the highway and then made another sharp turn to avoid a motorcycle before losing control and crashing into the divider.

He alleged that the impact was so severe that vehicle parts were scattered across nearly 40 feet of the highway.

Yadav said local residents rushed to the scene, used an iron rod to force open the doors and rescued the occupants before police arrived. Police reached the spot shortly after receiving information and shifted the injured to hospital.

Body Sent for Post-Mortem

Police said Aban sustained severe head injuries along with multiple fractures and died on the spot.

His body has been sent to the post-mortem facility at Jhansi Medical College. After the examination, the body will be handed over to the family.

According to local reports, he is expected to be buried in Prayagraj alongside the grave of his father.

Family Remains Under Legal Spotlight

Atiq Ahmed had five sons, with Aban being the youngest.

His brother Asad Ahmed was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi in 2023. Another brother, Ali Ahmed, is currently lodged in Jhansi Jail, while Umar Ahmed is imprisoned in Lucknow. Their elder brother, Ahzam, is pursuing higher education.

The family has remained under legal scrutiny since the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal in 2023. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead during a police escort in Prayagraj in April 2023 while being taken for a medical examination.

Atiq Ahmed's wife, Shaista Parveen, continues to remain absconding, and Uttar Pradesh Police has announced a reward for information leading to her arrest.

Police said further investigation into Thursday's accident is underway.

Bageshwar Baba Dhirendra Shastri Attacks Lenskart Over ‘Tilak Ban’: ‘Move Company to Lahore’

‘Nakkata, Open Your Firm in Pakistan’

Heated Exchange in Prayagraj

Bageshwar Dham head Pandit Dhirendra Shastri launched a sharp attack on eyewear major Lenskart during a Hanuman Katha here, daring the company to shift its operations to Lahore if it cannot respect Hindu religious symbols. The fiery sermon on Tuesday drew massive applause from devotees.

‘Don’t Mess with Sanatan’

Shastri targeted the company’s alleged dress code policy that reportedly restricts employees from wearing tilak, sindoor, or mangalsutra. “Ek company hai Lenskart. Usne bola – no tilak, no mangalsutra, no sindoor,” he said. “Nakkata, tu apni company Lahore khol le. Bharat mein kyun mar raha hai?”

The priest warned that attacking the mangalsutra today would lead to attacks on the entire Sanatan Dharma tomorrow. “Aaj unhonne mangalsutra par ungli uthayi, kal woh tumhari Geeta-Ramayan par uthayenge,” he added.

What Sparked the Row

The controversy erupted after a purported policy document went viral on social media. It claimed Lenskart barred employees from wearing bindi, tilak, and kalava while allowing hijab and pagri under certain conditions. Activist Shefali Vaidya shared screenshots on X, questioning the discrepancy.

This quickly became a flashpoint. Hindu outfits accused the company of practising religious discrimination under the garb of workplace rules. The issue gained traction as a Public Interest Story, dominating national debates.

 Company’s Clarification Rejected

Amid growing backlash, Lenskart CEO Piyush Bansal issued a statement asserting that the company respects all faiths. He maintained employees have full freedom to wear religious symbols. However, the clarification has failed to pacify critics.

Protesting organisations have rejected the statement outright. They continue to demand a written apology and a rollback of the alleged policy. Agitations outside Lenskart showrooms have intensified.

 Protests Spread to Showrooms

In Bhopal’s New Market area, workers of the Hindu Utasav Samiti gheraoed a Lenskart outlet. Protesters applied tilak on employees and tied kalava while chanting mantras. “Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan,” they declared.

Similar protests are now being planned in other cities. As per Latest News Today, more demonstrations are expected in the coming days across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

 What Happens Next

Legal experts suggest the matter could reach the courts if the policy is proven discriminatory. Meanwhile, political reactions are pouring in. Some ruling party leaders have backed Shastri’s stance, calling for a national debate on workplace religious freedom.

For now, Lenskart finds itself at the centre of a storm. As an India News Update, this episode highlights rising tensions around religious expression in corporate India. The coming week will determine whether the company revisits its policy or faces sustained protests. According to officials familiar with the matter, no formal complaint has been filed yet, but pressure is mounting from multiple quarters.

Magh Mela Controversy Deepens: Administration Warns Swami Avimukteshwaranand of Permanent Ban

The sacred grounds of Prayagraj’s Magh Mela have become the stage for a escalating confrontation between religious tradition and administrative authority. The Magh Mela controversy has intensified dramatically, with the Mela administration issuing a second stern notice to Swami Avimukteshwaranand within 48 hours, warning of a potential permanent ban from the festival. This clash, centered on events during the auspicious Mauni Amavasya bath, has split the saint community, drawn political intervention, and raised pressing questions about protocol and respect in India’s spiritual heartland.

At the core of the Magh Mela controversy are starkly conflicting accounts of January 18. The administration alleges the seer broke a barrier on a reserve pontoon bridge and attempted to forcibly enter a densely crowded area with a carriage, "creating a serious risk of a stampede." Their notice demands to know why he should not be banned for life, threatening to withdraw his camp’s allotted land if a satisfactory reply is not given within 24 hours.

However, Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s camp has fired back with a detailed, three-page rebuttal. His media in-charge, Shailendra Yogiraj, calls the notice "vindictive" and backdated. The Swami’s response denies all allegations, stating he owns no horse-drawn carriage and was in a simple palanquin carried by devotees. He accuses certain officials of deliberately orchestrating disorder and then scapegoating him, asserting that CCTV footage would exonerate him. On the administration’s challenge to his Shankaracharya title, his reply advises officials to refrain from commentary on sub-judice matters.

The Magh Mela controversy has revealed deep fissures within the religious community. Prominent voices like Dwarka’s Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Maharaj and Puri’s Shankaracharya Nishchalanand Saraswati have rallied behind Avimukteshwaranand, condemning administrative "arrogance." Conversely, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya has stated "no injustice was done" to the Swami, suggesting the fault lies with his insistence on using a palanquin.

Politically, the issue is gaining heat. Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey met the Swami, alleging a conspiracy and promising to raise the issue in the assembly. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has condemned the treatment of the seer. Meanwhile, the administration appears to be holding its ground, setting the stage for a potential legal and devotional standoff.

Why This Matters Now

This is more than a procedural dispute. It highlights the tense, often fragile balance between managing millions of devotees at mega-festivals and respecting centuries-old traditions of ascetic authority. With the festival ongoing and the next key bath—Basant Panchami—approaching, the Magh Mela controversy threatens to cast a shadow over the remaining rituals. Swami Avimukteshwaranand has declared he will not perform the Basant Snan until he completes his disputed Mauni Amavasya bath, ensuring the impasse continues.

The coming 24 hours are critical. Will the administration’s ultimatum force a resolution, or will it inflame sentiments further, potentially triggering the wider saint-led protests some have warned of? This Magh Mela controversy has evolved from a local incident into a national discourse on faith, order, and power.