A fire broke out early Saturday morning in two vehicles parked near the Mahakumbh Mela venue in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred around 6:30 am, prompting a swift response from the authorities. According to UP fire services officer Vishal Yadav, the fire started in a Maruti Ertiga car due to extreme heat generated by the large number of vehicles parked in the area. Six fire tenders were dispatched, and the flames were brought under control without any casualties reported.

This comes on the heels of a similar fire incident at the Mahakumbh Mela on January 19, where a cylinder explosion at the Gita Press camp led to the destruction of 70-80 huts and several tents. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams worked tirelessly to control the blaze, while authorities seized 270 illegal gas cylinders in subsequent inspections. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future, highlighting the safety concerns at this major spiritual event.

Despite these challenges, the Mahakumbh Mela has seen a massive turnout, with over 102 million devotees taking a holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam so far. On Friday alone, 58.76 lakh people participated in the rituals. The Uttar Pradesh government anticipates over 450 million visitors during the event, making it one of the largest gatherings in the world.