At least 14 devotees and priests were injured in a fire inside the sanctum sanctorum of Mahakal temple in Ujjain in the early hours of Holi, on Monday. It’s the first time that such an incident happened at the Jyotirlinga temple. The fire broke out during Bhasmarti when devotees were showering colours as part of Holi celebrations, temple management committee chairman and Ujjain collector Neeraj Kumar Singh said.
Witnesses said there was a sudden sweeping flash of flames when gulal (colour) was being showered on the deity during the Bhasmarti rituals, indicating that chemicals in the colours might have ignited.
The injured include temple priests, their sons and temple sevaks. “Eight people have been referred to a private hospital in Indore. Their condition is stable,” the collector said. Chief minister Mohan Yadav rushed to Indore and Ujjain to meet the victims and announced a compensation of Rs100,000 each. Ujjain is the CM’s hometown.
The CM told reporters that he has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. “Attempts will be made to find out who is at fault. Action will be taken against them,” he said, adding the administration will take steps to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Union home minister Amit Shah also took cognizance of the incident and posted on X that he had spoken with CM Yadav about the incident and the administration is providing treatment and assistance to the injured.