Mussoorie/Haridwar/Haldwani, June 1 -- An unprecedented influx of tourists and pilgrims during the extended weekend put traffic management systems under severe pressure across Uttarakhand's major destinations, with Mussoorie and Haridwar witnessing prolonged traffic jams and overcrowding, while Nainital made efforts to manage the rush through strict traffic regulations. The surge in visitor numbers was driven by a combination of summer vacations, rising temperatures across north India, the ongoing Char Dham Yatra and the long weekend. While the tourism provided a boost to local businesses, it also exposed infrastructure limitations. The Queen of Hills witnessed one of its busiest weekends of the summer season. Traffic congestion began building up on Friday evening and intensified through Saturday, with major roads witnessing long queues of vehicles. The Mussoorie-Dehradun Road, particularly the stretch between Kingcraig and Library Bazaar, remained clogged for hours. Mussoorie SDM Rahul Anand said authorities implemented emergency traffic measures to prevent a complete breakdown of the transport network. "The administration enforced a one-way traffic plan under which Mussoorie-bound vehicles were diverted through Kimadi, while Yamunotri-bound traffic was redirected via Vikas Nagar from Kuthal Gate. Large tourist vehicles and commercial tempo travellers were stopped at Kingcraig and tourists were shifted to authorised local shuttle services," he said. Despite the challenges, the tourism boom proved beneficial for local businesses. Sanjay Agarwal, president of the Mussoorie Hotel Association, said hotel occupancy crossed 90% during the weekend. However, he stressed that inadequate parking was a challenge. Haridwar witnessed an overwhelming rush of pilgrims and visitors due to the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, summer vacations and religious events associated with the auspicious Jyesth Purushottam month. The scale of the rush was evident on May 24 during Somvati Amavasya when more than 24.52 lakh devotees arrived in Haridwar for a holy dip in the Ganga. To review arrangements, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar inspected Har-ki-Pauri and adjoining areas on Sunday. In contrast, Nainital witnessed a massive tourist influx but largely avoided major traffic jams due to strict traffic management measures implemented by the district administration and police. Hotels, resorts and homestays across Nainital, Bhimtal, Mukteshwar and Ramnagar reported full occupancy as tourists escaped the intense heat prevailing across North India. Officials estimated that more than 50,000 tourists visited Nainital district during the extended weekend. "It is extremely hot in the plains, which is why we have come to Nainital with our family. The weather here is very pleasant and we are finding immense relief," said Sanjay Vashishth, a tourist from Kanpur. Nainital SP (Traffic) Jagdish Chand, said only vehicles with confirmed hotel bookings were allowed entry into the town, helping prevent congestion on key roads. Officials said the successful implementation of the traffic management plan ensured smooth vehicular movement despite one of the busiest weekends of the summer season....