A fire at the Geeta Press Gorakhpur camp during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj destroyed around 180 cottages, injuring one person and causing significant damage to goods, officials said on Monday.
The blaze, which began around 4:10 PM on Sunday, was attributed to a gas cylinder leak in the camp’s kitchen, located between the old and new railway bridges, according to local authorities. The flames led to two cylinder explosions and were brought under control by 5:00 PM with the help of fire services, police, and Kalpvasis.
Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) for the Maha Kumbh Mela, confirmed that the fire destroyed 70 to 80 huts and 8 to 10 tents. Krishna Kumar Khemka, a trustee of Geeta Press, described the loss as devastating, with goods worth crores destroyed.
“Despite taking strict precautions to prevent fire incidents, everything was lost,” Khemka said, adding that the cottages were built with care.
One individual sustained a leg injury while escaping the fire and lost consciousness. He received initial treatment at the Central Hospital and was later transferred to Swaroop Rani Medical College, where doctors declared his condition stable.
In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government issued a fire safety advisory to all camps at the Maha Kumbh Mela. The advisory urged immediate reporting of fires through emergency numbers, including 112, 1920, and 1090.
Key safety measures outlined include:
- Proper identification and use of fire-fighting equipment.
- Keeping water and sand readily available near tents.
- Avoiding storage of flammable materials, such as petrol or kerosene.
- Prohibiting the use of open flames and non-standard gas cylinders inside tents.
The advisory also recommended keeping gas cylinders upright and using wet cloths or fire extinguishers to contain flames during emergencies.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with further details expected as the probe progresses. The Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, has drawn millions of pilgrims to Prayagraj, prompting heightened safety measures.
