District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mander confirmed that the fire affected at least ten tents before being contained. He stated, "At 4:30 p.m. today, we received information about a fire... Fire brigade, police teams, and organizing teams rushed to the spot," adding that the situation had returned to normal.
Kumbh Mela Deputy Inspector General of Police, Vaibhav Krishna, reported no casualties or injuries. He emphasized that the priority was the evacuation and safety of attendees, noting that approximately 15 fire tenders were deployed to manage the situation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site to assess the damage and oversee the response efforts.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, recognized as the world's largest human gathering, commenced on January 13 and is expected to attract over 400 million pilgrims over six weeks. Devotees congregate at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers to perform ritual baths believed to cleanse sins and liberate them from the cycle of rebirth.
To accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims, authorities have constructed a temporary city spanning approximately 4,000 hectares, featuring around 150,000 tents, thousands of kitchens, toilets, and other essential amenities. Security measures are extensive, with the deployment of 50,000 personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, to manage the crowds and ensure safety. Advanced technologies such as CCTV surveillance, drones, and underwater drones are utilized for crowd management and security monitoring.
Fire safety has been a significant focus in the planning of the festival. Each tent is equipped with fire safety equipment, and a total of 351 firefighting vehicles, along with 2,000 trained personnel, are on standby to respond to any emergencies. Despite these precautions, the incident underscores the challenges of managing such a vast congregation.