Fire Breaks Out During ‘Bhasm Aarti’ At Mahakaal Temple In Ujjain, 13 Injured

Ujjain, March 25 (TNA) A fire broke out in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shri Mahakaleshwar temple during the Bhasma Aarti on Monday morning. 13 people including the priest sustained burn injuries in the mishap. The fire broke out due to gulaal being thrown during the aarti.

Thousands of devotees were present in the temple at that time. Everyone was celebrating Holi with Mahakal. An injured person told officials that someone poured gulaal on the priest Sanjeev who was performing the aarti from behind. Gulal fell on the lamp. Probably the fire broke out due to the presence of chemicals in the gulaal.

To protect the silver wall of the sanctum sanctorum from colour - gulaal, flex sheets had been pasted. The fire spread in these also. Some people brought the fire under control with the help of firefighters. But by then, 13 people present in the sanctum sanctorum including Sanjeev Pujari, Vikas, Manoj, sevadhari Anand Kamal Joshi, who were performing aarti, got burnt.

Ujjain Collector Neeraj Singh said that orders have been given to investigate the matter. A committee will investigate this.