Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 20: The Maha Kumbh Mela witnessed an overwhelming display of faith and devotion as over 4.4 million devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam Triveni on the eighth day of the festival, by 2 pm on Monday. As of January 20, more than 80 million pilgrims have bathed in the sacred waters during Maha Kumbh 2025.
In addition, over one million Kalpvasis have embraced the spiritual retreat at the Kumbh Mela, adding to the festival’s spiritual significance.
Earlier on Monday, official data revealed that over 2.2 million pilgrims visited the Mela by 8 am.
Meanwhile, addressing the ongoing investigation into the fire incident that occurred at the Maha Kumbh on Sunday, Director General of Fire, Avinash Chandra, confirmed that local authorities are handling the case. He stated that while rumours are circulating, the exact cause of the incident would be determined after a thorough investigation. “The police have the right to investigate this incident. Local authorities are already on it. There are many rumours, but the exact reason will be revealed after the investigation,” he said.
Chandra also reassured the public about the extensive fire safety measures in place at the Kumbh Mela. “We have established 53 fire stations and 20 fire posts in the Kumbh area, with over 1,300 fire personnel and more than 300 fire vehicles deployed. The fire safety arrangements are robust, and we will strengthen them further,” he explained. He emphasized the quick response time, stating, “Our response time is around three minutes, and we assure the devotees that their safety is our priority.”
The fire, caused by the explosion of three cooking gas cylinders, occurred on Sunday, but fortunately, no casualties were reported. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the fire site to assess the situation and interact with officials and firefighting teams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with CM Adityanath and took note of the incident.
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26, 2025.