Maha Kumbh 2025: Cylinder blast at Gita Press camp lead to Sunday's massive blaze, says UP Chief Fire Officer

A big fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Sunday due to a cylinder blast injuring one person and engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19 officials told news agency PTIThe fire which started at around 4 pm was brought under control within an hour through 15 fire tenders officials statedUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was in Prayagraj to review the Mauni Amavasya preparations at Maha Kumbh 2025 He reached the spot and directed authorities to take steps to avoid any such incident in future PTI reportedMeanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Adityanath over phone to enquire about the incident The chief minister told PM Modi that the blaze was quickly brought under control by teams of SDRF State Disaster Response Force NDRF National Disaster Response Force and fire department a senior official saidThe fire broke out at 410 pm in the kitchen of Gita Press camp and was doused by 5 pm an official statement readThe fire broke out after a small cylinder started leaking while preparing tea Soon two other gas cylinders kept there exploded it said adding that 40 straw huts and six other tents were guttedAccording to the official statement while running from the spot a person named Jaspreet fainted and injured his leg and was rushed to the Maha Kumbh Mela hospital to receive first aid He was later shifted to Swaruprani Medical College Prayagraj The condition of the injured was stated to be out of danger PTI reportedIn the fire items such as cots blankets chairs etc were destroyed the official statement saidMassive fire erupts at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj panic among devotees WATCH VIDEOPrayagraj Zone Additional DGP Bhanu Bhaskar on Sunday told PTI that the blaze was extinguished and the situation was under controlPeople have been evacuated and the fire has been brought under control The situation is normal here and losses are being quantified he saidThe thatched roofs of the tents caught fire while the rest of the structures are still there said BhaskarFire brigade and police teams extinguished the blazePrayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mander said that they received information at 430 pm about a fire in a tent in Sector 19 one of the 24 sectors of the fairgroundThe blaze spread to some other tents Fire brigade and police teams reached the spot and extinguished the blaze There is no report of any loss of life Mander saidI was inside the akhada when I heard a loud sound and saw everybody running I rushed outside and within minutes there were two more blasts Soon everybody came out of their campsmy heart is still racing said Samant Bharti a seer The affected area was closed for pilgrimsUsually inside the akhadas yagnas are performed which also create smoke So we were in panic after seeing the blaze the seer told PTIUrban Development Minister A K Sharma who also reached the spot said that fire was doused within minutes and directed mela authorities to immediately rehabilitate affected peopleArrangements should be made for their night stay and the cause of the incident should be reviewed to avoid occurrence of such incidents in future Sharma saidMahakumbh 2025 kicks off with Paush Poornima Thousands of devotees reach Sangam Ghat WATCH VIDEO15 fire tendersEarlier Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma said 15 fire tenders were pressed into service to contain the blaze which engulfed 18 tents PTI statedFire has been doused and the situation in the area is under control Sharma saidAkhada Police Station Incharge Bhaskar Mishra said the fire was caused due to the explosion of two LPG cylinders in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh MelaThe 45day Maha Kumbh 2025 started on Paush Purnima on January 13 More than 772 crore people have taken the holy dip according to official figures as of SaturdayOfficials said that more than 4695 lakh devotees took a dip in the Sangam on SundayWith inputs from PTI