Krishna Kumar Khemka, a trustee of Geeta Press Gorakhpur, said that the tragic fire that occurred at their camp during the Maha Kumbh Mela, which resulted in the destruction of about 180 cottages. Khemka said that they had constructed around 180 cottages with great care, and strict precautions were taken to prevent any kind of fireworks.
They had also designated a specific area to the west where people could bathe in the Ganges, with a boundary clearly marked. He said that he wasn’t sure who was given the responsibility by the administration, but a spark from the fire quickly spread towards them. Gradually, the flames engulfed all their cottages. He added that everything was destroyed in the fire, and goods worth crores were damaged. Although no lives were lost, one individual was injured while attempting to escape the fire. He sustained a leg injury and lost consciousness.
The report suggested that the person had received immediate medical attention and was initially treated at the Central Hospital before being transferred to Swaroop Rani Medical College in Prayagraj for further treatment. Doctors have confirmed his condition is stable and no longer critical.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: How did the fire occur?
ANI quoted sources from the Information department and reported that the fire began around 4:10 pm due to a gas cylinder leak in the kitchen of the Geeta Press Gorakhpur camp, located between the old and new railway bridges. Local fire services, assisted by Kalpvasis and police personnel, managed to control the flames by 5:00 PM. The fire led to the explosion of two gas cylinders and caused the destruction of 40 thatched huts and six tents belonging to an individual.
Vivek Chaturvedi, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) for the Maha Kumbh Mela, confirmed that the fire at the Geeta Press camp had damaged 70 to 80 huts and 8 to 10 tents. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause and further details of the incident.
UP govt issues advisory
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday issued a fire safety advisory to all camps at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The advisory urged individuals to report any fire or emergency incidents immediately by contacting the Mela control, local police, or fire stations through the emergency numbers 112, 1920, 1090, or other numbers provided by the ICCC.
The advisory by the UP government urged people to stay calm during emergencies and use the nearest fire-fighting equipment from a safe distance without endangering themselves. It stressed on being aware of nearby exit routes and using them promptly in the event of a fire.
The advisory also recommended properly identifying fire-fighting tools to ensure they are used effectively. Additionally, it advised keeping water and sand close to tents for immediate use in extinguishing fires.
In case of a gas cylinder fire, the advisory urged individuals to keep the cylinder upright and evacuate the area while attempting to extinguish the flame with a wet cloth or fire extinguisher and preventing any gas leaks. People are encouraged to fight the fire as much as possible until emergency services arrived.
The advisory also cautions=ed against storing flammable materials such as petrol, kerosene, or gas inside tents. It advises against using non-standard or leaking gas cylinders, burying them underground, or using plastic or synthetic materials for tents. Open flames like stoves or havan kunds should not be used inside tents.
Additionally, it warned against adding oil to burning lamps or stoves, storing highly flammable materials like petrol, or cooking food in windy conditions.
This advisory follows a fire incident at the Maha Kumbh Mela camp in Prayagraj, which was reportedly caused by a gas cylinder explosion. The fire was eventually brought under control.
(With ANI Inputs)