Day after Maha Kumbh fire, UP govt issues safety advisory

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government issued a fire safety advisory on Monday for all camps at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

The advisory urged people to promptly report any fire or emergency incidents to the Mela control, local police, or fire stations using helpline numbers 112, 1920, 1090, or those specified by the ICCC.

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In the event of a fire, the advisory instructed people to alert others by creating noise to notify nearby tents of the danger. It emphasized maintaining calm during emergencies and using fire-fighting equipment from a safe distance to attempt extinguishing the fire without endangering oneself.

Devotees were advised to familiarize themselves with the nearest exit routes and use them in case of a fire. The advisory also recommended identifying fire-fighting equipment for proper use and keeping water and sand readily available near tents for fire emergencies.

Officials highlighted the need for quick evacuation of children and suggested cutting tent ropes or strings to prevent the fire from spreading. They further advised using water, sand, or any available fire-fighting equipment to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.

For gas cylinder fires, the advisory recommended keeping the cylinder upright, exiting the area, and attempting to extinguish the fire with a wet cloth or fire extinguisher while working to stop any gas leakage. People were encouraged to fight the fire as much as possible until emergency services arrived and to assist others in exiting safely.

The advisory also cautioned against storing flammable materials such as petrol, kerosene, diesel, gas, or candles inside tents. It warned against using non-standard or leaking gas cylinders, burying gas cylinders in the ground, or using plastic or synthetic fabrics for constructing tents. Open flames like stoves and havan kunds were strictly prohibited inside tents.

"Never add oil to burning lamps, stoves, or gas burners, and do not store petrol or other highly flammable materials and avoid cooking food outdoors during strong winds," the advisory stated. It also urged people to prioritize assisting others during a fire incident rather than recording videos.

The advisory followed a fire incident on Sunday at a camp in the Maha Kumbh Mela, reportedly caused by a cylinder blast. The fire was successfully brought under control. Meanwhile, over 2 million devotees had taken a holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj as of today.