If the Mahakumbh stampede wasn¡¯t horrifying enough, the mela witnessed another disaster within 24 hours¡ªthis time, a raging fire. Just as authorities scrambled to manage the aftermath of the stampede that killed 30 and injured dozens, multiple tents went up in flames near Jhunsi Chhatnag Ghat and Nageshwar Ghat in Sector 22, Prayagraj.
The fire department confirmed that 15 tents were gutted, though no casualties were reported. Officials revealed that the narrow, poorly accessible pathways made firefighting operations challenging, but the blaze was ultimately contained.
The Mahakumbh, already grappling with the tragic stampede on Mauni Amavasya, saw fresh panic as flames erupted near the mela grounds. An official from the UP Fire Department stated that prompt action prevented further damage, but the fact that these tents were allegedly unauthorized raises serious concerns.
The timing of this incident¡ªjust one day after stampede chaos¡ªhas sparked debates on crowd management, security lapses, and the overall preparedness of the authorities.
On Wednesday, the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya turned into a nightmare when an overwhelming surge of devotees breached barricades, leading to a stampede that claimed 30 lives and left nearly 60 injured. Police officials attributed the chaos to crowd pressure, as lakhs of pilgrims pushed their way through limited entry points.
?Despite freezing temperatures and dense fog, over 1.52 crore devotees had already taken the dip by 2 PM on Thursday. With Basant Panchami¡¯s Amrit Snan coming up on February 3, security forces are now on high alert to prevent another catastrophe.
Learning from the tragic events, authorities are implementing stricter security protocols. Bridges that were temporarily shut due to the stampede have been reopened, but new restrictions will be in place before February 3. To further streamline movement, VIPs are now barred from the mela grounds on Basant Panchami¡ªjust as they were on Mauni Amavasya.
While the devotees¡¯ faith remains unshaken, the twin tragedies of stampede and fire have raised serious questions about crowd control and safety measures at the world¡¯s largest religious gathering.