In a tragic incident, as many as 14 people, including priests, got injured after a fire broke out in the ‘garbhagriha’ of Mahakal Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain. According to the information, the incident occurred during ‘bhasma aarti’ on Monday. The injured individuals were rushed to the District Hospital for treatment, the police said.
Priest Ashish Sharma said the incident occurred during the traditional Holi celebrations at the temple. “The fire spread in ‘garbhagriha’ due to gulaal. Priests of the temple got injured. We have rushed them to the hospital…” he added.
Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s son and daughter narrowly escaped in this accident. They were also present at a short distance from the incident site. The injured include chief priest of Bhasmarti Sanjay Guru, Vikas Pujari, Manoj Pujari, Ansh Purohit, servant Mahesh Sharma, and Chintaman Gehlot among others.
After the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Yadav and took stock of the situation. “I spoke with CM Mohan Yadav and collected information regarding the incident of fire. The local administration is making all help and treatment available to the injured…” Shah added.
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister expressed his grief over the incident. “The incident that happened this morning during Bhasma Aarti in the sanctum sanctorum of Baba Mahakal temple is sad. I have been in touch with the administration since this morning. Everything is under control. I pray to Baba Mahakal for the speedy recovery of all injured people,” CM Yadav wrote on X.
He along with minister Kailash Vijayvargiya also visited the hospital in Indore to meet the injured. Speaking to reporters after arriving in Ujjain, the CM said the injured will be given assistance of Rs 1 lakh each as well as the best available treatment for free.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his grief at the incident and termed it “very painful”. “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 providing all possible help to the victims,” the PMO wrote on Twitter.
