Allahabad, Jan 29: The Uttar Pradesh has banned small gas cylinders from being used in the Maha Kumbh and also synthetic clothes after a fire in the premises last week left 19 people injured, officials said Tuesday.
In a bid to increase safety levels at the site of the Kumbh mela, the world's largest gathering of people, divisional commissioner of Allahabad Devesh Chaturvedi held a high-level meeting late Monday and also asked gas companies, police, fire department, electric board and sector magistrates to form a team.
The team will inspect and create awareness on the issue.
"In case of any faults, written complaints can be given to the team, which can be asked to rectify the problem," Chaturvedi told IANS.
A special drive has also been launched to identify defective pipes and regulators and the residents at Kumbh, specially in the Kalpa Vaas area.
Keeping of more than six cylinders at a place has also been banned.
All residents of Kalpa Vaas have been requested to keep sacks full of sand and water buckets to be used in case of fire.
The police has been alerted on supply trucks and other vehicles trying to sneak in small cylinders inside the premises.
"Use of synthetic clothes is totally prohibited in the Mela area and the entry and exit of big tents and wire connections is also being checked for safety," mela in-charge Mani Prasad Mishra told IANS.
Besides, residents have been cautioned against use of high energy consuming devices like heaters to CFL or bulb points.
On Jan 25, 19 people were injured as a fire swept through tents at the Kumbh Mela premises.
The cause of the fire is said to have been caused by incense sticks left behind in the tent by devotees. It then found way to a gas cylinder which exploded.
Eight pilgrims, who were seriously injured, were Saturday flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Delhi for treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
