Tragic Incident: Fire breaks out during Bhasma Aarti at Mahakal temple, 13 injured

March 25, 2024

Ujjain: In a tragic incident at the Ujjain Mahakal temple on Monday morning, festivities turned into chaos as a fire broke out during the Bhasma Aarti at the ‘garbagriha’ in the temple, said officials.

13 people, including priests and temple staff, were injured in the incident, including the Chief priest of Bhasma Aarti, Sanjay Guru. Those injured in the incident were rushed to the Ujjain district hospital for treatment.

“The fire broke out during Bhasma Aarti in the ‘garbhagriha’. 13 people are injured in the incident and their medical treatment is underway,” informed District Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh.

As per reports, the fire broke out because of the chemicals present in Gulaal (Colours). Injured priest of the temple said someone threw the gulaal in the Sanctum Sanctorum which accidentally fell on the burning lamp. It is possible that chemicals present in the Colour-gulaal triggered the fire.

As per reports, In the accident, Bhasmarti’s chief priest Sanjay Guru, Vikas priest, Ansh Purohit, servant Mahesh Sharma, Chintaman Gehlot, Kamal Joshi, Satyanarayan Soni, Ramesh, Shubham, Vikas, Manoj Sharma, Sonu Rathore, Rajkumar Bais, Mangal and 13 servants and priests got burn injuries. The condition of six of these is said to be critical.

Action will be taken: CM Mohan Yadav

CM Mohan Yadav said, “A few priests have been injured and they have been admitted to hospitals in Indore and Ujjain. I am going there. It is all the blessing of god that it didn’t turn out in a major incident but whatever has happened, I have ordered a magisterial investigation and will ensure that these things won’t repeat. Action will be taken against those at fault.”