PRAYAGRAJ: A cluster of 40 huts and six tents at the Maha Kumbh site was gutted in a fire triggered by successive LPG cylinder explosions in Sector 19 on Sunday afternoon, coinciding with CM Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Sangam to take stock of preparations for Mauni Amavasya. No casualties or injuries to pilgrims were reported as fire safety teams swiftly evacuated the approximately 25 people inside camps in the vicinity, officials said.
PM Modi called Adityanath later to enquire about the fire, originating from a gas leak in the kitchen of the Gita Press camp at 4.08pm. The blaze was controlled within an hour and the area was declared safe by 7pm. NDRF, SDRF and police teams were part of the operation long with 45 fire engines and over 200 fire services personnel, deputy director of fire services Aman Sharma told TOI.
Witnesses said they heard at least three cylinder blasts before flames engulfed the tents. Chief fire officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey said the thatched roofs of some tents fuelled the flames. “The situation is normal now, and losses are being assessed,” additional DGP Bhanu Bhaskar said.
The area assigned to Gita Press, which publishes religious texts, and some adjacent stalls suffered the most damage. Some Maha Kumbh participants said they lost an unspecified amount of cash in the blaze. “The fire department received information about the Gita Press camp being engulfed in flames around 4.08pm, and we moved four fire engines immediately,” Sharma said. “There was an alert from the fire watchtower at Jhunsi, too, after our personnel noticed smoke billowing out of tents in Sector 19.”
As thick clouds of smoke enveloped the area where most of the akharas had set up camps, there was panic as people ran to safety. The arrival of fire engines and senior police officials pacified the mela participants. “I was inside the akhara when I heard a loud sound and saw everybody running. As I rushed outside, there were two more blasts within minutes,” a sadhu said.
A post on Maha Kumbh 2025’s official X handle said, “Very sad! The fire incident at #MahaKumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray to Maa Ganga for everyone’s safety.” The 45-day Maha Kumbh 2025 started on Jan 13. More than 7.72 crore people have bathed at Sangam so far, and another 47 lakh visitors congregated Sunday, according to official figures.
