Maha Kumbh Mela Fire: A major fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Sunday, caused by a cylinder blast, resulting in one injury and the destruction of 18 tents in Sector 19. The blaze, which started around 4 pm, sent thick plumes of smoke into the air, triggering panic among nearby akhadas. According to officials, 15 fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze, which was brought under control within an hour.
After the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who apprised him about the situation after visiting the spot when the blaze was brought under control, news agency PTI reported officials as informing. The Chief Minister assured him that the fire had been swiftly contained by teams from the SDRF, NDRF, and the fire department.
According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma, the fire began in a tent due to a cylinder explosion, leading to massive flames. Akhara Police Station In-charge Bhaskar Mishra stated, “Two cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a massive fire in the camps. Firefighters are trying to douse the blaze”, as per PTI.
An official statement confirmed that the fire broke out at around 4:10 pm at the kitchen of the Gita Press camp. The blaze started after a small gas cylinder began leaking during tea preparation, followed by the explosion of two additional cylinders. Forty straw huts and six other tents were destroyed in the fire.
One person, identified as Jaspreet, fainted while fleeing from the scene and sustained a leg injury. He was rushed to the Maha Kumbh Mela hospital and later transferred to Swaruprani Medical College. His condition is reported to be stable, as per PTI.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Vivek Chaturvedi informed that around 70 to 80 huts and eight to 10 tents had been burnt. He told ANI, “Unfortunately a fire broke out at the Gita Press camp. It is reported that around 70 to 80 huts and eight to 10 tents have been burnt due to the fire. There are no reports of any casualties. Everyone has been rescued safely. The fire has been extinguished.”
NDRF Deputy Inspector in General (DIG) MK Sharma stated that four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had worked to bring the fire under control. “The four teams of NDRF worked here and brought the fire under control… The teams had reached immediately upon receiving information about the fire.” the DIG stated.
Maha Kumbh Mela Fire: UP CM Yogi Adityanath Visits Spot, Administration Says Blaze Under Control
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj to review preparations for Mauni Amavasya, visited the site and instructed authorities to take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Prayagraj Zone Additional DGP Bhanu Bhaskar confirmed that the fire was extinguished and the situation was now under control. “People have been evacuated, and losses are being quantified,” Bhaskar said, adding that while the thatched roofs of the tents were destroyed, the rest of the structures remained intact.
Urban Development Minister A K Sharma, who visited the site, instructed the authorities to immediately assist the affected individuals, ensuring their accommodation for the night. He also called for a review of the incident to prevent future occurrences.
The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13, has already witnessed an influx of more than 7.72 crore devotees, with more than 46.95 lakh taking a holy dip at the Sangam on Sunday.
