MP temple fire: CM announces free treatment to the injured, assistance of Rs 1 lakh each

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav on Monday announced support to those injured in Ujjain’s Mahakal temple fire with assistance of Rs 1 lakh each, as well as the best available treatment for free.

While talking to reporters, Yadav also promised that administration will take all efforts to ensure such an incident does not take place again.

"Our first priority is to provide best treatment to the injured. There is no casualty by the grace of Mahakal. Doctors are facing a problem in finding burn injuries due to (Holi) color on the skin," Yadav was quoted as saying by PTI.

At least 14 priests, including 'sevaks' (assistants), were injured in a fire that broke out in the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Monday during 'bhasma aarti' on the occasion of Holi.

The fire took place in the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple at 5:50am.

Commenting over the incident, Prime Minister Modi in a post on X said, "The incident that happened in Mahakal temple of Ujjain is very painful. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the devotees injured in this incident. The local administration is engaged in every possible help to the victims under the supervision of the state government."
The cause of the fire is not yet clear as CM Yadav said it is not known whether the fire started after the 'aarti thali' fell when 'gulaal' was thrown on it or whether the 'gulal' reacted to some chemical.

However, the incident has been captured by the CCTV cameras installed in the temple.

One of the priests while talking to reporters said the fire started after gulal was thrown as part of a ritual on the occasion of Holi. It caused burn injuries to priests, who were rushed to the district hospital.

Chief priest of Bhasma Aarti, Sanjay Guru, was also injured in the incident. A large number of devotees were also present including some VVIPs in the Nandi Hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum, but no injuries were reported among the devotees, officials said.

Meanwhile Dr Vinod Bhandari, president of Indore-based Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS), told PTI eight of the injured have been admitted at his facility.
"The eight persons have suffered 35 to 40 percent burn injuries, and the condition of one of them is serious," he said.
 

(with PTI inputs)