Mahakumbh Nagar (UP): A big fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela here on Sunday due to a cylinder blast, injuring one person and engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19, officials said.

Thick clouds of smoke enveloped the fair area as panic gripped the nearby akhadas. The officials said 15 fire tenders brought the blaze, which started at around 4 pm, under control within an hour.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj to review the preparations ahead of Mauni Amavasya, also reached the spot and directed authorities to take steps to avoid any such incident in future, they said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Adityanath over phone to enquire about the incident.

“The chief minister told PM Modi that the blaze was quickly brought under control by teams of SDRF, NDRF and fire department,” a senior official said.

According to an official statement, fire broke out at 4.10 pm at a kitchen of Gita Press camp, and was doused by 5 pm.

“The fire broke out after a small cylinder started leaking while preparing tea. Soon, two other gas cylinders kept there exploded,” it said, adding that 40 straw huts and six other tents were gutted.

According to the statement, while running from the spot, one Jaspreet fainted and injured his leg, and was rushed to the Maha Kumbh Mela hospital.

After receiving first aid, Jaspreet was shifted to Swaruprani Medical College, Prayagraj, it said. The condition of the injured was stated to be out of danger, it added.

“In the fire, items like cots, blankets, chairs, etc were destroyed,” the statement said.

Prayagraj Zone Additional DGP Bhanu Bhaskar told PTI that the blaze has been extinguished and the situation is under control.

“…People have been evacuated and the fire has been brought under control. The situation is normal here and losses are being quantified,” he said.

Bhaskar said the thatched roofs of the tents caught fire while the rest of the structures are still there.

Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mander said that they received information at 4:30 pm about a fire in a tent in Sector 19, one of the 24 sectors of the fair ground.

“The blaze spread to some other tents. Fire brigade and police teams reached the spot and extinguished the blaze. There is no report of any loss of life,” Mander said.

The affected area was cordoned off for pilgrims as onlookers shot the rising flames and smoke using their mobile phones.

“I was inside the akhada when I heard a loud sound and saw everybody running. I rushed outside and within minutes there were two more blasts.

Soon everybody came out of their camps…my heart is still racing,” said Samant Bharti, a seer.

“Usually inside the akhadas, ‘yagnas’ are performed which also create smoke. So we were in panic after seeing the blaze,” he told PTI.

Urban Development Minister A K Sharma, who also reached the spot, said that fire was doused within minutes.

He directed mela authorities to immediately rehabilitate affected people, according to an official statement.

“Arrangements should be made for their night stay and the cause of the incident should be reviewed to avoid occurrence of such incidents in future,” Sharma said.

Earlier, Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma said 15 fire tenders were pressed into service to contain the blaze which engulfed 18 tents.

“Fire has been doused and the situation in the area is under control,” Sharma said.

Akhada Police Station In-charge Bhaskar Mishra said that two LPG cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a big fire in the camps.

Soon after the incident, the Maha Kumbh 2025 official X handle posted, “Very sad! The fire incident at #MahaKumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray Maa Ganga for everyone’s safety.” It also shared a clip that showed a thick black column of smoke billowing out from the affected area.

In a post on X, the Samajwadi Party expressed its grief over the incident and asked the government to run rescue operation in fast pace.

The 45-day Maha Kumbh 2025 started on Paush Purnima on January 13. More than 7.72 crore people have taken the holy dip, according to official figures available till Saturday.

Officials said that more than 46.95 lakh devotees took a dip in the Sangam on Sunday.