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.
Speaking 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.
गंगे च यमुने चैव गोदावरी सरस्वती ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु।Advertisementआज तीर्थराज प्रयागराज में, भारत की शाश्वत आध्यात्मिक विरासत और लोक आस्था के प्रतीक महाकुंभ में स्नान-ध्यान करके स्वयं को कृतार्थ अनुभव कर रहा हूँ। pic.twitter.com/ZoELPQCcRC
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 18, 2025
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The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, is currently underway in Prayagraj. It commenced on January 13.
This story was published at 4.48 pm on January 19, 2025. It was updated at 8.45 pm on January 19, 2025.
