Kainchi Dham usually receives about 25,000 visitors a day, but crowds exceeded 35,000 daily over the long weekend. Nainital District Magistrate Lalit Mohan said the administration is considering a new standard operating procedure to open an existing bypass towards Almora and Ranikhet and divert traffic. Pilgrims and locals share the road to Kainchi, which continues to Mukteshwar, causing hours-long jams.

Uttarakhand is building an 18.15-km Kainchi Dham bypass from Sanatorium to Ranighat. Eight kilometres were completed and hot-mixed earlier this year; hill-cutting is complete on another 10.15 km. A motor bridge is being built to connect the bypass with the Bhowali-Almora highway. Heavy traffic also affected routes to Nainital and Bhimtal over the long weekend.

A weekend influx of devotees to Kainchi Dham, associated with Neem Karoli Baba, caused gridlock on the Haldwani–Kainchi Dham route and roads towards Nainital and Almora. Journeys usually taking two to three hours stretched to 10–12 hours. Traffic backed up around Bhimtal, Bhowali and Garam Pani; one traveller said his 72-year-old mother and an 80-year-old relative took over 11 hours to travel from Haldwani to Garam Pani. Ambulances, schoolchildren, elderly passengers and essential-supply vehicles were also delayed.

On Sunday, authorities barred outer two-wheelers from the Kainchi route, diverted some hill-bound traffic via Kathgodam–Bhimtal and introduced one-way movement on the Jyolikot highway. Shuttle services from Bhimtal Vikas Bhavan and Bhowali Sanatorium parking areas were increased. Daily footfall, previously estimated at 4,000–5,000, exceeded 6,000 on some days; weekend crowds were estimated at 15,000–20,000 or more.

Locals and ashram authorities linked the rush to Hanuman Ansh, a film on Neem Karoli Baba directed by Vishal Chaturvedi. Made on a reported ₹2 crore budget, it reached India net collections of about ₹321.73 crore by Day 58, India gross of ₹379 crore and worldwide gross of ₹419 crore. Ashram entry and exit arrangements were tightened, barricading increased and volunteers deployed.

Over 19 accident-prone black spots identified in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, reporting hundreds of accidents yearly. High-risk zones include Bhawali, Kaladhungi, Haldwani-Nainital Road, Ramgarh, Bhimtal, Jyolikot, and Kathgodam-Garampani stretch. Most dangerous routes: Haldwani-Kathgodam Road, Nainital-Kaladhungi Road, Nainital-Ramnagar Road. Common issues: sharp curves, narrow and damaged roads, lack of road signs, poor lighting, speeding, overtaking-related collisions. Ministry of Road Transport 2024 report: Nainital recorded 512 road accidents, 198 deaths, hundreds injured; approximately 60% occurred at identified black spots. District administration implementing improvements: road repairs, road signs and reflectors, safety walls, speed breakers, CCTV cameras. Joint teams from Public Works Department, Traffic Police, and Transport Department engaged. Customised strategies based on geographical conditions. Public awareness campaigns for road safety. Experts emphasise physical improvements must be complemented by strict enforcement of traffic rules.