FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 218 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | JANUARY 20, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in fp ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN PRESS PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper NO CASUALTY REPORTED | Thick clouds of smoke enveloped the mela area Briefs GUWAHATI FIR against Rahul Gandhi An FIR has been registered against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his 'fighting against Indian state' remark. The FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi at the Pan Bazar Police Station in Guwahati. The complaint was filed by Monjit Chetia, who accused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha of overstepping the boundaries of permissible free speech. KATIHAR 3 die, 5 missing as boat capsizes Three persons, including a three-year-old child, died and five others went missing after a boat capsized in the Ganga in Bihar's Katihar district on Sunday, officials said. The boat, carrying 15 people, capsized near Golaghat in Amdabad area, they said. Seven people have been rescued so far, and some of them managed to swim to the river bank. Cylinder blast: Massive blaze engulfs tents at Maha Kumbh PTI MAHAKUMBH NAGAR A big fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela on Sunday due to a cylinder blast, engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19, officials said. No casualty was reported in the incident, the government said in a statement. Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma said 15 fire tenders were pressed into service to contain the blaze which engulfed 18 tents. "Fire has been doused and the situation in the area is under control," Sharma said. Earlier, Akhara Police Station In-charge Bhaskar Mishra said that two LPG cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a big fire in the camps. Senior officials are on the spot and fire teams have managed to douse the fire, the statement issued by the government here said. The Maha Kumbh 2025 official X handle posted, "Very sad! The fire incident at #MahaKumbh has shocked everyone. The administration is ensuring immediate relief and rescue operations. We pray Maa Ganga for everyone's safety." It also shared a clip that showed a thick black column of smoke billowing out from the affected area. In a post on X, the Samajwadi Party expressed its grief over the incident and asked the government to run relief and rescue operation in fast pace. 4Continued on | P8 Monalisa’s fame forces her return to Maheshwar Biswajeet Banerjee MAHAKUMBH NAGAR Firefighters try to douse a fire that broke out in tents during Maha Kumbh The fire that broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela should be taken cognizance of immediately and seriously and it should be ensured that such an accident does not happen in future nAkhilesh Yadav, SP chief YOGI VISITS SPOT PM Modi speaks to CM Yogi rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take stock of the situation after a fire gutted several tents in Sector 19 of the Mahakumbh venue in Prayagraj. No one was in- P jured in the incident. PM Modi and Chief Minister Adityanath also discussed fire-control arrangements at the venue to prevent a repeat of such an incident. The Uttar Pradesh CM has sent senior officials to the site to assess the situation. ttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj to review the preparations ahead of Mauni Amawasya, also reached the spot and directed authorities to take steps to avoid any such incident in future, the officials said. U ‘Under Control’ rayagraj Zone Additional DGP Bhanu Bhaskar told PTI that the blaze has been extinguished and the situation is under control. "...People have been evacuated and the fire has been brought under control. No casualty was reported in the incident. The situation is normal here and losses are being quantified," he said. Bhaskar said the thatched roofs of the tents caught fire while the rest of the structures are still there. P In the heart of Mahakumbh's spiritual vibrance, an unlikely figure has emerged as a viral sensation. Monalisa, a young garland seller from Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, captivated the internet with her striking features and serene demeanor, transforming her into an unexpected star. However, the unintended fame overwhelmed her, forcing her family to send her back home. STAR AMID THE CROWD onalisa arrived at Mahakumbh with her family to sell garlands, a humble service for millions of pilgrims visiting the sacred Triveni Sangam. Yet, it wasn’t the garlands but her dusky complexion, amber eyes, and Mona Lisa-like smile that stole the spotlight. Videos of her quickly spread across social media, earning her widespread admiration and M comparisons to the iconic painting. Visitors flocked to Sector-7, where Monalisa’s stall was located, eager to snap selfies and record videos with her. “Her grace and calmness in the bustling environment made her stand out,” said one devotee. THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF FAME onalisa’s sudden popularity, however, came at a cost. The constant crowd disrupted her ability to sell garlands. “People surrounded her all the time, asking for pictures and videos. It became impossible for her to work,” said her father, who decided to send her back to Maheshwar for her peace of mind. Her two sisters remain at Mahakumbh, continuing the family’s work, but Monalisa’s departure has sparked a conversation about the pressures of viral fame. M 4Continued on | P8