A significant fire erupted in the early hours of Friday at the renowned Gangasagar Mela, completely gutting more than 50 temporary sheds located near the sacred Kapil Muni Ashram. Authorities have confirmed that the incident resulted in no casualties or loss of life.
Timeline and Immediate Response
The blaze started around 4:30 AM along Road No. 2 at the mela grounds, approximately 400 meters from the Kapil Muni Ashram and close to the No. 2 bathing ghat. According to eyewitness accounts, a few workers who were installing loudspeakers first noticed flames emerging from one of the temporary huts. They immediately raised an alarm, prompting others in the vicinity to attempt to douse the fire using buckets of water.
However, the sheds, constructed primarily from dry hogla leaves, caught fire instantly. Strong morning winds caused the flames to spread with alarming rapidity, overwhelming the initial efforts. Within minutes, the fire intensified, leading to an emergency call being placed to the fire brigade.
Firefighting and Official Oversight
A team of three fire tenders rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fierce blaze under control. Firefighting operations continued for a considerable time afterward to prevent any potential flare-ups. Senior officials, including Sagar BDO Kanaiya Kumar Rai, senior police officers, and local MLA Bankim Hazra, promptly reached the site to oversee the relief and assessment work.
While the fire damaged several temporary structures belonging to the information and cultural affairs department, police, and media organisations, officials provided a crucial reassurance. No accommodation sheds meant for pilgrims were affected by the fire, ensuring the core facilities for devotees remained intact.
Cause, Impact, and Future Safety
MLA Bankim Hazra indicated that preliminary findings point towards a possible electrical short circuit as the cause of the fire, though the exact reason is still under investigation. "The labourers finished work late at night and were resting. During early morning installations, the fire was first noticed. Fire services responded promptly," Hazra stated.
Highlighting the swift action taken, an official said, "There were no injuries or loss of life. Immediate steps were taken to begin reconstruction of the damaged sheds so that mela activities were not disrupted." Reconstruction work on the affected sheds has already commenced.
In the wake of this incident, authorities have announced that additional safety measures will be implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring the security of the millions of pilgrims who attend the annual congregation.
