A large fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday evening after two to three gas cylinders exploded in the Sector 19 campsite area, according to local authorities.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath immediately arrived at the scene to oversee emergency efforts, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to ensure proper response. The explosion caused flames to spread across at least 18 tents in the vicinity, but fire tenders, police, and fire departments quickly controlled the blaze. Additionally, a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined in to assist.
Prayagraj Zone ADG Bhanu Bhaskar confirmed that no injuries or fatalities occurred, stating, βThe fire has been controlled, and everyone is safe.β People in nearby tents were evacuated as a precaution.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak reassured the public that government and health officials were providing assistance to devotees and saints at the scene, and the situation was under control.
The incident occurred amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, which started on January 13 and is expected to draw over 400 million attendees throughout its six-week duration. This event, held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, is known as the largest gathering of humanity in the world.
