Prayagraj Mahakumbh: Cylinder Explosion Sparks Deadly Fire, 20-25 Tents Reduced to Ashes

A devastating fire broke out in Sector 5 of the Mahakumbh fairgrounds in Prayagraj on Saturday, January 20. The fire caused massive destruction and panic among the attendees. The fire was caused by a cylinder explosion inside one of the tents, which spread to 20 to 25 tents within a short period and reduced them to ashes.
Incident Details
The raging fire started when a cylinder stored inside a tent exploded, and within minutes, it spread rapidly into a fierce fire. The eyewitnesses described how the flames engulfed several tents within a few minutes. Six fire engines were sent to the location to try to put out the fire in an attempt to contain it as soon as possible. However, the fire continued to spread wildly because the cylinders kept exploding within the tents.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
As the fire spread, local authorities, including the police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), launched a mass evacuation of the surrounding areas to ensure the safety of the fair attendees. The affected area between Shastri Pul and Railway Pul, a busy section of the Mahakumbh fair, was quickly evacuated of people to prevent further casualties and injuries.