Prayagraj: On the auspicious occasion of Maha Kumbh, where lakhs of devotees come to take a holy dip, a tragic incident has made the atmosphere gloomy. On the seventh day of the fair, on Sunday evening around 4:15 pm, a fire broke out in the camp of Gita Press in Sector 19. While cooking food, a small gas cylinder leaked, which took a monstrous form in no time. One after the other, the explosions of three cylinders further fuelled the fire, due to which more than a hundred straw cottages of the Kalpvasis were burnt to ashes.
How did the fire start?
Gita Press camp was set up on the banks of the Ganga under the railway bridge in Sector 19. Kalpvasis were staying in more than a hundred cottages here. On Sunday evening, a fire broke out in a cottage due to a gas cylinder leaking while cooking food. Seeing the flames and smoke, there was chaos in the camp and people started running to save their lives. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the fire had spread throughout the camp.
Panic caused by cylinder explosions:
After the fire broke out, the gas cylinders kept in the camp started exploding with loud explosions one after the other. The sounds of a total of three cylinders exploding were heard, which spread more panic among the people. Fire brigade and NDRF teams along with more than 40 fire engines started extinguishing the fire. After about an hour of hard work, the fire was brought under control, but by then a lot of damage had been done.
People ran away to save their lives:
After the fire broke out, there was an atmosphere of fear and panic in the camp. People were running away with their cylinders and belongings. Everyone was scared. The sounds of the explosions made the situation even more horrifying. The fire spread so fast that its heat was felt even by the people standing on the road. Due to the narrow road, many people also fell on each other while running. Passersby somehow pulled them out.
A small mistake, loss of lakhs:
Cooking in cottages made of straw proved to be dangerous. This negligence resulted in a loss of more than one crore rupees. More than 100 cottages were burnt, in which all the belongings of the Kalpvaasis were also burnt to ashes. Some burnt notes were also found, which were seized by the police.
Immediate relief work:
On receiving the information of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also reached the spot and took stock of the situation. He instructed the officials to carry out immediate relief work.
Fact check:
The incident occurred on Sunday at around 4:15 pm.
A fire broke out in the camp of Geeta Press in Sector 19.
Three cylinders exploded.
More than a hundred cottages were burnt to ashes.
There was a loss of lakhs rupees.
There was no loss of life.