Fire during Holi aarti at Ujjain's Mahakal temple leaves 14 injured

UJJAIN: At least 14 devotees and priests were injured in a fire that broke out when devotees showered gulal during bhasm aarti in Mahakal temple on Holi early Monday.

"All victims are stable in hospital," said Ujjain collector Neeraj Kumar Singh, who is also the chairman of Mahakal temple management committee. It is the first such accident in the 'garbha griha' of the jyotirlinga temple, he said.

Singh met a forensic fire expert from Mumbai and sought his suggestion to prevent such incidents, said a press note.

Colours showered during the ritual fell on the aarti plate, starting the fire, temple sewak Sonu told TOI. Around 50 people were in garbha griha at that time, he added.

The flames destroyed flex coverings erected to protect the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. The rituals went on despite the injuries, Sonu added.

After the fire, the temple management has restored a ban on gulal from outside for 'Rang Panchami' festival on March 30. The temple committee uses herbal colour made from palash flowers.

Additional collector Anukul Jain on Tuesday began the investigation into the fire and recorded statements from victims. The report is expected in three days. Those injured included temple priests, their sons, and temple sevaks, the youngest being 13 years old and the oldest 79. "They were initially treated in Ujjain and then referred to Indore. Doctors said that the victims suffered 10% to 25% superficial burns. One of the injured, Rajkumar, 50, was discharged after first aid, said the collector.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav rushed to Ujjain on Monday to meet the victims and announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each of them. Ujjain is the CM's hometown. "Attempts will be made to find out who is at fault. Action will be taken against them," he said.

Union home minister Amit Shah also took cognisance and wrote, "I pray to Baba Mahakal for the speedy recovery of the injured."


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