Gangasagar, 09 January (H.S.): A massive fire broke out at Gangasagar Mela grounds just before its formal inauguration. In the early hours of Friday morning, several temporary camps set up for devotees on Sagar Island suddenly caught fire, causing panic throughout the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread so rapidly that the temporary shelters were engulfed in flames within moments. Several explosion-like sounds were also heard amidst the fire, raising suspicions of a gas cylinder blast. However, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, and an investigation is underway.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning in the area near bathing ghat number two of the fairgrounds. The fire initially started in several temporary camps and then spread to other nearby shelters. The structures, made of dry leaves and other flammable materials, fueled the rapid spread of the fire.
Several temporary camps belonging to the police, the Information and Culture Department, various media outlets, and the Bajrang Dal were completely destroyed in the blaze. Local residents attempted to extinguish the fire, but due to the temporary nature of the structures, it quickly went out of control.
On information, two fire tenders and five firefighting motorcycles from the fire department arrived at the scene, and after considerable effort, the fire was brought under control.
The entire area has been cordoned off by the police. Senior administrative officials, including Sagar's Block Development Officer (BDO) Kanaiyakumar Rai, arrived at the spot to assess the situation. It is noteworthy that the Gangasagar Mela was inaugurated just a day earlier, and millions of devotees are expected to arrive before Makar Sankranti. This fire incident has raised serious questions about the security arrangements at the fairgrounds.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
