A fire broke out in the Mahakal Temple located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, during the early hours of Monday, injuring fourteen priests, including assistants, during the ‘bhasma aarti’ ritual, an official confirmed.
The incident occurred around 5:50 am in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, as revealed by Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh. He stated that the injured priests received burns, with some undergoing treatment at the district hospital while others sought medical attention in Indore. A magisterial probe has been initiated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, with a report expected within three days, led by Zila Panchayat CEO Mrinal Meena and Additional Collector Anukool Jain.
According to officials, the fire originated when colored powder, known as ‘gulal’, fell onto a puja thali containing burning camphor (‘kapoor’), igniting the floor and resulting in a blaze. CCTV cameras installed in the temple captured the entire incident.
Priest Ashish informed reporters that the accident occurred during a ritual involving the use of gulal as part of the Holi celebration. Despite the presence of a large number of people, including VVIPs, in the Nandi Hall adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum, no injuries were reported among the devotees.
Expressing concern over the incident, Prime Minister Mohan Yadav conveyed his wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees and assured all possible assistance from the state government. Chief Minister Yadav, who visited the injured at the hospital, emphasized that the situation was under control and stated that President Droupadi Murmu had also contacted him regarding the incident.
Yadav noted that the use of gulal as part of the temple’s ‘bhasma aarti’ ritual has been a tradition for centuries, but it was unfortunate that the incident occurred due to the overturning of the plate. He announced a probe into the fire to ascertain if any chemical substances were involved, emphasizing that there appeared to be no conspiracy behind the incident and that the investigation would address all aspects of the incident.
