Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 19: Uttar Pradesh Minister A K Sharma confirmed on Sunday that the fire that broke out at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj was caused by the explosion of three cooking gas cylinders. He reassured the public that no casualties were reported in the incident.
“I was informed that three cylinders exploded, which led to the spread of the fire. The blaze was brought under control within 20 minutes,” Sharma told ANI. He also mentioned that around 100 people were present in the Gita Press camp at the time of the fire, but fortunately, there were no casualties. “With the blessings of Ma Ganga, there have been no casualties,” he added.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Vivek Chaturvedi, confirmed that the fire had destroyed around 70 to 80 huts and 8 to 10 tents at the Gita Press camp. “Although the fire caused significant damage, there are no reports of casualties. Everyone has been safely rescued, and the fire has been extinguished,” he stated.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) MK Sharma praised the efforts of the NDRF, saying four teams had worked together to control the fire promptly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to inquire about the situation. The Chief Minister assured the Prime Minister that the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had acted swiftly to prevent further damage.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Harish Chandra Srivastava criticized the opposition for making accusations without understanding the facts, asserting that the fire was caused by the cylinder blasts. He accused the opposition of engaging in hostile politics by making unfounded claims.
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26.