Sanatan seekers helped control the crowd and move items post the fire incident at Maha Kumbha
Sanatan seekers assist in managing the crowd at a fire incident site
Prayagraj – On January 19th, a massive fire broke out near Shastri Bridge in Sector 19 of Maha Kumbha, engulfing and destroying 200 tents belonging to Geeta Press. Sanatan Sanstha’s book exhibition, located nearby at Mori Mukti Marg in Sector 19, was also at risk. Upon learning about the incident, seekers of Sanatan Sanstha promptly arrived at the scene and assisted the fire brigade, Police, NDRF, and administrative teams in managing the crisis.
After the fire broke out, a large crowd of devotees gathered at the site, making it difficult for fire brigade vehicles to navigate through. Sanatan’s seekers took charge and managed the crowd effectively, clearing the way for the fire brigade vehicles and ensuring smooth traffic in the area. Additionally, the seekers assisted the administrative staff in relocating materials from the affected tents to a safer location.
The fire brigade and administrative officials promptly arrived at the scene within 10 minutes of the tents catching fire
The administration’s commendable efforts in managing the crisis
Since Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was visiting Prayagraj, the administration’s teams were on high alert. Within 10 minutes of receiving information about the fire in Sector 19, a swift and coordinated response was executed. A total of 32 fire engines with 160 personnel, along with 154 NDRF soldiers, 125 SDRF soldiers from 5 teams, and 420 Policemen from 5 Police stations, including traffic and city units, immediately reached the scene.
The entire area was secured, and the fire brigade, Police, and administrative staff, assisted by seekers of Sanatan Sanstha and volunteers from other NGOs, worked together to evacuate devotees from the danger zone and move materials to safety. Ambulances were dispatched, and a householder, Jaspreet Singh, who was injured, was promptly taken to the hospital. Hospitals in the area were put on alert to handle any emergencies.
To manage the situation, roads were temporarily closed to prevent further crowding. Officials from the fire department and Maha Kumbha Mela addressed the media to provide accurate details of the incident, urging the public to ignore rumours. Devotees commended the teams involved for their quick and efficient action during the crisis.