Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A fire broke out at the Kumbh mela grounds in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today (January 19). The blaze, which occurred between the rail bridge and Shastri bridge, triggered two gas explosions.
Fire at Kumbh Mela between the Rail bridge and Shastri
bridge. Photo: Indra Shekhar Singh
The fire engulfed in the 19th sector and spread rapidly,
affecting multiple akhadas in the region. Emergency services were quickly
deployed to the scene, and firefighters battled to bring the blaze under
control. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also arrived to
assist the fire officials in dousing the blaze.
No casualties have been reported so far, but the extent of
the damage is still being assessed.
While the cause of the fire was not known immediately,
Akhara police station in-charge Bhaskar Mishra told news
agency PTI that cylinder explosions caused the fire. “Two
cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a massive fire
in the camps. Fire fighters are trying to douse the blaze,” Mishra was quoted
as saying.
peaking to media persons, Prayagraj district magistrate
Ravindra Kumar Mandar said, “Today at 4.30 pm we received information about a
fire in Geeta Press in Kumbh area sector 19. Fire brigade and police teams
reached the spot. Along with Geeta Press, fire was also reported in the tents
of 10 Prayagwal which has been extinguished. The situation is normal, there is
no report of any loss of life.”
Commenting on the incident, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief
minister Brajesh Pathak wrote on X that
the government is “keeping a close watch”.
“In connection with the fire incident in Sector 19 (Tulsi
Marg) of Maha Kumbh-2025 organised in Prayagraj, a team of officials of Uttar
Pradesh government and health department is present at the spot and every
possible help is being provided to the saints and devotees visiting there. The
government is also keeping a close watch on the entire incident. The situation
is completely under control,” Pathak wrote.
Fire tenders rushed to the spot post the fire at Kumbh Mela.
Photo: Indra Shekhar Singh
Yesterday, defence minister Rajnath Singh performed a puja
after taking the holy bath in Kumbh Mela. Uttar Pradesh chief minister
Adityanath is on a visit to the mela today. He inspected the spot after the
fire incident.
The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in
the world, is currently underway in Prayagraj. It commenced on January 13.