Prayagraj: Fire engulfs parked vehicles near Mahakumbh venue, no injuries reported
A fire engulfed two parked vehicles on Saturday morning in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, near the main road leading to the Mahakumbh Mela. Authorities quickly dispatched six fire brigades and water tenders to control the flames. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, confirmed UP Fire Services Officer Vishal Yadav.
The blaze broke out in a Maruti Ertiga around 6:30 am. Yadav explained that intense heat, caused by the large number of vehicles parked for the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela, likely triggered the fire. Officials managed to contain the incident swiftly, ensuring the safety of people nearby.
This incident followed another fire a week earlier at the Mahakumbh venue. On January 19, a suspected cylinder explosion sparked a fire at the Gita Press camp. The fire destroyed 70–80 huts and 8–10 tents. Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional District Magistrate of the Mahakumbh Mela, confirmed the details. Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, led by DIG MK Sharma, worked together to bring the situation under control.
In response to the recent fire, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged authorities to implement stricter safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the Mahakumbh Mela continues to draw massive crowds. By Friday evening, over 48.76 lakh devotees had visited Prayagraj to take a holy dip. Drone visuals showed a sea of devotees at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
The event has already recorded over 102 million attendees since its start. The Uttar Pradesh government expects more than 45 crore visitors to participate in this year’s Mahakumbh. The early milestone of 10 crore bathers reflects the event’s unprecedented popularity.
With proper safety measures in place, the Mahakumbh aims to balance spiritual fervor and public safety during the world’s largest religious gathering.
