A large fire broke out at a Hindu religious festival, the Maha Kumbh Mela, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, but the blaze was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported, officials said.
The fire spread to at least 10 tents being used to host the Mela before emergency teams managed to contain it, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mander told reporters.
"At 4.30 p.m. today, we received information about a fire ... Fire brigade, police teams and organising teams rushed to the spot," he said, adding that the situation at the event was now normal.
The six-week-long Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher festival, began in India last Monday, and is touted as the world's largest gathering of humanity.
More than 400 million people are expected to arrive in the city of Prayagraj over the course of six weeks to take a dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati.
Read next
09:50
world news
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called on India and Pakistan to avoid further escalation following recent airstrikes and mounting tensions over Kashmir, emphasizing the need for regional peace and stability.
00:10
Pakistan
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
00:02
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed what he called a “great victory” for the nation’s armed forces on Wednesday, following what officials described as a major air incursion attempt by the Indian Air Force.
18:50
India-Pakistan conflict
Pakistan has reportedly downed an Indian Rafale fighter jet, along with other Indian military aircraft, using Chinese-made PL-15 missiles. The incident occurred amid rising tensions between the two nations, marking a notable development in the ongoing conflict.
18:23
An early morning explosion in Lahore has heightened uncertainty in South Asia, coming at a time of rising diplomatic and military strain between India and Pakistan.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment