14 Priests Injured In Fire During 'Bhasma Aarti' In Ujjain Mahakal Temple Amidst Holi Celebration

New Delhi: A fire incident at the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, resulted in injuries to fourteen priests, including assistants known as ‘sevaks’, during the ‘bhasma aarti’ on Monday. The fire broke out in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum around 5.50 am, according to Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the Mahakal Temple fire incident, emphasizing its distressing nature and extending speedy recovery wishes to the injured.

In message on social media platform X, the PM said, "The accident that happened in Mahakal temple of Ujjain is very painful. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the devotees injured in this accident. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in every possible help to the victims." The unfortunate event led to burn injuries among the priests, with some receiving treatment at the local district hospital and eight others seeking medical attention in Indore. A magisterial investigation into the incident has been initiated, with Zila Panchayat CEO Mrinal Meena and Additional Collector Anukool Jain leading the probe. A report is expected within three days.

उज्जैन के महाकाल मंदिर में हुई दुर्घटना अत्यंत पीड़ादायक है। इस हादसे में घायल सभी श्रद्धालुओं के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। राज्य सरकार की देखरेख में स्थानीय प्रशासन पीड़ितों की हरसंभव मदद में जुटा है: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 25, 2024

Priest Ashish informed reporters that the fire began after gulal was thrown as part of a Holi ritual, causing the priests to sustain burn injuries and necessitating their immediate transport to the district hospital. Despite the presence of a large crowd, including some VVIPs, in the Nandi Hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum at the time of the incident, no injuries were reported among the devotees.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, in a message on platform X, described the incident as unfortunate and assured that he was maintaining constant communication with the district administration. He further stated that everything was under control.

Chemicals In Gulaal May Have Caused Fire

Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya while talking to reporters suggested that the fire at the famed Mahakal Temple in Ujjain on Monday morning might have been triggered by chemicals present in 'gulal', a colored powder commonly used in rituals and during the festival of Holi.

The fire was reportedly triggered when ‘gulal’ (a coloured powder used in rituals) fell onto a puja thali containing burning camphor, which subsequently spread across the floor and escalated into a blaze. The entire incident was captured by the temple’s CCTV cameras.