“Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath visits fire-affected area in Prayagraj, briefs PM Modi on the incident.”

Prayagraj Mahakumbh Fire Breakout: No Casualties Reported

A massive fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Sunday evening, causing significant damage to at least 40 thatched huts and six tents. Fortunately, there were no reports of major casualties.

Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and assured that the situation was under control. “There is no information about any casualty. The situation is under control,” Mandar stated.

The fire started around 4:10 pm in the kitchen of the Geeta Press camp near Karpatriji’s camp in Sector 19. This area is located between the old and new railway bridges in the Mahakumbh Mela zone. Authorities acted swiftly to bring the fire under control, ensuring there was no further risk to public safety.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials are working to assess the damage.

The fire quickly spread, engulfing huts and tents belonging to Shri Sanjeev Prayag. Fire brigade personnel, along with police and administrative teams, rushed to the scene and swiftly evacuated the affected area. Their prompt response helped prevent any further damage and ensured the safety of individuals in the vicinity.

The fire was successfully brought under control by 5:00 pm, thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of fire brigade personnel, police, and administrative teams. Their prompt action prevented the situation from escalating further.

“Fifteen fire tenders were pressed into service to contain the blaze… Everyone was safely evacuated from the site,” said Chief Fire Officer (Kumbh Mela) Pramod Sharma.

Additional Director General (Prayagraj) Bhanu Bhaskar added that the fire was swiftly extinguished using modern firefighting equipment, ensuring that the situation was brought under control effectively and efficiently.

Suspecting that a cylinder blast may have caused the fire, the Mela administration swiftly removed all gas cylinders from the affected area to prevent further escalation.

The initial investigation revealed that the fire started due to a gas leak while tea was being made with a small cylinder in the kitchen of the Geeta Press camp.

In the midst of the chaos, one person injured his leg while fleeing and fell unconscious. He was promptly admitted to Swaroop Medical College in Prayagraj. Officials confirmed that his condition is stable and not life-threatening.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj on Sunday, visited the affected area to take stock of the situation. Officials stated that the chief minister briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident.

The 45-day Maha Kumbh, expected to attract around 40 crore pilgrims, began in Prayagraj on January 13 and will conclude on February 26. According to officials, a total of 1.6 lakh tents and 50,000 shops have been set up to accommodate the massive influx of devotees and ensure smooth operations during the event.

Courtesy: Firstpost

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