Maha Kumbh: Drone visuals show the major fire that broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Sunday, January 19, reported the news agency PTI.
Multiple media reports from the location suggest that the fire at the Gita Press tent was fueled by the explosion of two gas cylinders and then quickly spread to nearby tents, shooting thick black smoke over Maha Kumbh Mela.
Media agencies also reported that fire personnel and ambulances reached the scene soon after the incident to extinguish the fire. A cylinder blast led to a massive fire in Mahakumbh 2025, said Kumbh Mela's Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma, cited the news agency ANI on Sunday.
Sharma also said that the fire engulfed 18 tents, and 15 fire tenders are trying to contain the spreading blazing inferno.
The Maha Kumbh Mela fire broke out at 4:30 p.m. under the railway bridge near Sector 19 in the tent of Gita Press. Initially, the fire spread to the nearby 10 tents before spreading more to the neighbouring regions.
“The fire broke out at 4.30 pm in sector 19 in the tent of Gita press. The fire spread to the nearby 10 tents. The police and administration team reached the spot. The fire has been extinguished. There is no information of any casualty. The situation is under control,” said Prayagraj DM Ravindra Kumar.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mahakumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishan said that a survey is underway which is set to determine the extent of the damage caused by the fire. He also assured that the fire is currently under control.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also visited the Mahakumbh 2025 mela and took cognizance of the fire incident, speaking to the officials and fire fighting teams on site.
According to official Uttar Pradesh government data, more than 1.7 million pilgrims visited the Mahakumbh Mela on Sunday, January 18, as of 8 a.m. in the morning.
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