A major fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. At least 40 thatched huts and six tents were destroyed in the blaze, but no major casualties were reported. Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar confirmed, “The fire has been extinguished, and there is no information about any casualties. The situation is under control.”

Cause of the fire

The fire began around 4:10 PM in the kitchen of the Geeta Press camp in Sector 19, which is located between the old and new railway bridges. The government suspects that the fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion. The flames spread rapidly, burning down huts and tents nearby, including those owned by Shri Sanjeev Prayag.

Swift response to control the fire

Fire brigade personnel, police, and administrative teams rushed to the scene. Fifteen fire tenders were deployed to contain the blaze, and by 5:00 PM, the fire was brought under control. Chief Fire Officer (Kumbh Mela) Pramod Sharma stated, “Fifteen fire tenders were pressed into service to contain the blaze... Everyone was safely evacuated from the site.”

The Mela administration removed all gas cylinders from the area to avoid further risks. Initial investigations confirmed that the fire was caused by a gas leak while making tea with a small cylinder in the Geeta Press camp kitchen.

One person sustained a leg injury while fleeing and fell unconscious. He was admitted to Swaroop Medical College in Prayagraj, and officials reported that his condition is stable and not life-threatening.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the affected area to assess the situation. He also informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident.

About the mela

The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13, is expected to attract around 40 crore pilgrims. On Sunday alone, approximately 46.95 lakh pilgrims visited the Sangam, raising the total footfall to 7.72 crore so far.