Members of the Opposition INDIA bloc criticized the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday, alleging mismanagement and inadequate preparation following a massive fire at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The fire, triggered by a cylinder explosion, injured one person and engulfed 18 tents in Sector 19, officials reported.

Thick plumes of smoke covered the fairgrounds, causing panic among nearby akhadas. Around 15 fire engines were dispatched to contain the fire, which started at approximately 4 p.m. and was brought under control within an hour.

The incident sparked a political blame game, with Opposition leaders pointing fingers at the BJP government. Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Ravidas Mehrotra stated, "The fire occurred while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was reviewing the preparations. This highlights the government’s mismanagement." Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai echoed similar sentiments, accusing the BJP of prioritizing marketing over preparation. "The arrangements at the site have left the public dissatisfied," he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj to assess preparations for Mauni Amavasya, visited the site and directed officials to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called Adityanath to inquire about the situation. "The chief minister informed the PM that the fire was swiftly brought under control by teams from SDRF, NDRF, and the fire department," a senior official stated.

According to an official report, the fire broke out at 4:10 p.m. in the kitchen of the Gita Press camp and was extinguished by 5 p.m. The blaze started due to a gas cylinder leak during tea preparation, which led to the explosion of two additional cylinders. The incident destroyed 40 straw huts and six tents.

One individual, identified as Jaspreet, fainted while fleeing the scene and injured his leg. He was promptly taken to the Maha Kumbh Mela hospital for treatment.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from PTI.