A fire broke out on January 30 in Sector-22 of the Prayagraj Mahakumbh Mela, just a day after a stampede claimed several lives. Several pandals in the fair area were engulfed in flames, prompting immediate response from fire tenders. Fortunately, since the area was unoccupied at the time of the incident, no casualties have been reported.
Fire brigade personnel swiftly reached the site and began firefighting operations to contain the blaze. Senior officials also arrived at the scene to assess the situation. However, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
This is not the first fire-related incident at the ongoing religious congregation. On January 19, a fire broke out in Sector-19 near Shastri Bridge, in the Geeta Press camp, around 4:30 p.m. The inferno, reportedly caused by a gas leakage in the kitchen, led to a blast of two gas cylinders, destroying 180 cottages. Fortunately, no lives were lost in that incident either.
The Mahakumbh administration stated that the fire originated while tea was being prepared using a small cylinder, which leaked and ignited the flames. Despite the rapid spread, authorities managed to bring the situation under control before any human casualties occurred.
The fire incident comes on the heels of a stampede that occurred on January 29, during the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Over 76 million devotees took the ‘royal dip’ in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers up until 8 p.m., making it one of the most crowded days of the six-week-long festival.
The stampede, which occurred as people surged towards the riverbanks for the sacred ritual, resulted in more than 30 deaths, according to sources, although the administration has officially confirmed 30 fatalities. Sixty others sustained injuries in the chaos. Authorities have launched an investigation into the tragic incident.
Despite the stampede, millions of devotees continued to pour into Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh. By 10 a.m. on January 30, officials reported that over nine million people had taken a ‘holy dip’ at the Sangam, further highlighting the spiritual significance of the event.
Authorities have undertaken extensive security measures to ensure the safety of visitors at the world’s largest religious gathering. The Mahakumbh Mela spans 4,000 hectares—an area equivalent to 7,500 football fields—and features 150,000 tents for accommodation, along with an almost equal number of public toilets. Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed across the festival grounds.
With three more ‘royal dips’ scheduled before the festival concludes, authorities are now on high alert to prevent further incidents. The Mahakumbh, held once every 12 years, is expected to draw 400 million devotees in 2025, making it the largest gathering of its kind.
