Mahakumbh fire: Cylinder blast triggers massive fire, 18 tents destroyed
A major fire erupted at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The blaze occurred in Sector 19 of the Mahakumbh Tent City, reportedly caused by an explosion of cooking cylinders. Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer, Pramod Sharma, confirmed that 15 fire tenders were deployed to control the fire, which engulfed 18 tents.
The fire broke out around 4:30 pm in a tent belonging to the Gita Press. Prayagraj’s District Magistrate, Ravindra Kumar, assured the public that the situation was under control and that there were no casualties. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath swiftly took action, visiting the fire site to speak with officials and firefighting teams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reached out to Adityanath, seeking updates on the fire incident.
The fire was brought under control in 20 minutes, thanks to the quick response of local authorities and emergency services. Uttar Pradesh Minister AK Sharma expressed gratitude for the safe outcome, thanking Ma Ganga, Triveni, and Lete Hanuman Ji for their blessings. He also acknowledged the efforts of the police and NDRF teams at the scene.
The Samajwadi Party, in a post on X, expressed its sorrow over the incident and called for swift relief and rescue operations. Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand emphasized that the government must ensure the safety of the devotees and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Mahakumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26. Since its start, over 7 crore devotees and revered seers have visited the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip. The Uttar Pradesh government has estimated that more than 4 crore people are expected to attend the event.
In the face of this disaster, local authorities worked tirelessly to manage the situation, preventing loss of life and mitigating damage. Authorities are also focusing on strengthening security measures and providing necessary facilities for the devotees.
