A fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Friday, triggering panic among devotees and officials. The incident occurred in Sector 18 of Maha Kumbh Nagar, near Tulsi Chauraha on Old GT Road. Several fire engines rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control.
"No casualties have been reported. The fire erupted at a camp near Tulsi Chauraha, but firefighters acted swiftly to contain it," said Inspector Yogesh Chaturvedi of Khak Chowk police station.
This incident comes just a week after a similar fire broke out at Chatnag Ghat, where 15 tents were gutted in an open area. Authorities later found that the tents were unauthorised. No injuries or deaths were reported in that fire either.
The Maha Kumbh, which commenced on January 13, has witnessed an unprecedented footfall, with the Uttar Pradesh government estimating that over 397.4 million devotees have taken a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Among them was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who performed a sacred ritual bath on Wednesday.
The festival, which is regarded as the world's largest religious gathering, will continue until February 26. The remaining key bathing dates include Maghi Purnima on February 12 and Maha Shivaratri on February 26. Authorities are maintaining strict vigilance to ensure safety at the event, given the massive influx of devotees.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials have urged pilgrims to adhere to safety guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.