Firefighters and emergency services rushed to the scene, containing the blaze and evacuating nearby areas. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and authorities are investigating the cause.
BY PC Bureau
A fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday evening, causing chaos in the holy city. The blaze reportedly began at the Shastri Bridge in Sector-19, one of the key areas of the massive spiritual gathering. Authorities rushed to the scene, and several fire tenders were deployed to contain the fire.
According to police, the fire was triggered by the explosion of two gas cylinders inside a tent. The flames quickly spread to nearby tents, destroying them. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries so far.
Fire trucks that had been stationed at the venue as part of the safety arrangements rushed to the affected area and successfully doused the blaze. In the meantime, people in nearby tents were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Akhara police station in-charge Bhaskar Mishra confirmed the incident, stating, “Two cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a massive fire in the camps. Firefighters quickly brought the situation under control.”
The official social media account of the Maha Kumbh Mela expressed sorrow over the incident, saying, “Very sad. The fire incident at Maha Kumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray to Maa Ganga for everyone’s safety.”
In a related incident, a misleading video surfaced online, claiming that a fire had broken out at the hospital and medical area of the Maha Kumbh. The video, posted by an account named Adv. Nazneen Akhtar, showed officers wearing toxic gas masks and putting out a fire.
However, IPS Vaibhav Krishna, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) at Kumbh Mela, clarified that the video was from a fire drill conducted by the Kumbh Mela Police several days earlier. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading false information, stating, “This is absolutely false information. You are indulging in rumor-mongering. The video is from our Fire Mock Drill a few days back. Strong legal action will be taken against you if you spread unsubstantiated information.”
The incident highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it, especially on social media where rumors can spread rapidly.
