Lagatar24 Desk
Prayagraj: A fire broke out in two vehicles parked on the main road leading to the Mahakumbh Mela venue in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Saturday morning. The incident prompted authorities to deploy several fire tenders to extinguish the flames.
According to UP fire services officer Vishal Yadav, the fire was reported around 6:30 am. “A Maruti Ertiga car caught fire. Six fire brigades and water tenders were sent immediately to control the blaze. Thankfully, no one was harmed,” Yadav told PTI.
The fire was attributed to extreme heat caused by the heavy presence of parked vehicles at the Mahakumbh Mela, the world’s largest spiritual gathering currently underway in the city.
Previous Incident at Mahakumbh Mela Venue
This incident comes a week after another fire broke out at the Mahakumbh Mela venue, reportedly due to a cylinder explosion. The fire, which occurred in the Gita Press camp on January 19, caused significant damage, burning 70-80 huts and 8-10 tents.
Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams worked together to bring the fire under control, according to DIG MK Sharma. Additional District Magistrate Vivek Chaturvedi confirmed the damages and highlighted efforts to address the aftermath.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called for heightened attention to fire safety at the Mahakumbh venue, urging authorities to implement measures to prevent such incidents.
Mahakumbh Mela: Record Turnout of Devotees
Despite the fire incidents, the Mahakumbh Mela continues to see an overwhelming turnout. By Friday evening, over 48.76 lakh devotees had visited the mela. A staggering 102 million people have taken a holy dip since the event’s commencement.
Drone visuals from Triveni Sangam showcased massive crowds performing rituals and taking dips at the sacred confluence. The state government projects that over 45 crore visitors will attend the Mahakumbh Mela this year, with over 10 crore already participating.
