Massive fire breaks out at Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj; no casualties

Uttar Pradesh: A massive fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Sunday after a cylinder blast, with flames engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19, according to officials. No casualties were reported in the incident, according to PTI.

Kumbh Mela’s Chief Fire Officer, Pramod Sharma, reported that 15 fire engines were deployed to control the blaze. ''The fire has been extinguished, and the situation in the area is now under control,'' Sharma added. 

Earlier, Bhaskar Mishra, In-charge of the Akhara Police Station, mentioned that two LPG cylinders exploded in Sector 19, causing the fire in the camps. Senior officials were present at the scene, and fire teams successfully managed to control the situation, according to a government statement.

The official Maha Kumbh 2025 Twitter account posted, ''Very sad! The fire incident at #MahaKumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray Maa Ganga for everyone’s safety.” A video shared showed thick black smoke rising from the affected area. The Samajwadi Party also expressed its condolences in a post on X, urging the government to expedite the relief and rescue operations.

The 45-day Maha Kumbh 2025 festival began on Paush Purnima, January 13. As per the latest figures, over 7.72 crore people have participated in the holy dip, with more than 46.95 lakh devotees taking a dip at the Sangam on Sunday.