Fire Breaks Out in Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple, 40 Shops Gutted

Fire broke out in the complex of the famed Meenakshi Amman Temple on 2 February. 

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

At least 40 shops were damaged when a fire broke out in the complex of the famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, but there was no damage to the temple itself, said a fire service official.

Temple authorities ruled out any sabotage, and said electrical short circuit in one of the shops selling pooja articles caused the fire, PTI reported.

The fire along the temple, spotted from a distance. (Photo courtesy: Twitter/@theesbala)

No Damage to Temple Due to Fire

The blaze did not cause any damage to the sculptures inside the temple, though many of them were covered in soot, a police official said.

There is no damage to the temple. The old wooden door was saved by preventive action. Fortunately, all the sculptures in the 1,000-pillared hall were saved by the timely intervention of the temple officials, workers and the fire and rescue service personnel.

Police official

According to Temple Fit Person Karumuttu T Kannan, about four or five fire tenders had spent over 30 minutes controlling the fire, The Hindu reported.

Devotees Allowed to Offer Morning Prayers

We got information about the fire in shops near the 1,000 pillar <i>mandapam </i>in the temple. We rushed five fire tenders and controlled the fire from spreading.

A senior fire service official to IANS

District Collector Veera Raghava Rao, who was at the temple, told PTI that there was no need for panic, and devotees could offer worship as usual.

About 300 police personnel have been deployed in and around the temple for security.

Poojas would be held as per schedule, and cleaning up of the eastern side of the temple would be done in three days, officials said.

Various organisations including Hindu Baktha Jana Sabha, VHP and Hindu Munnani had been demanding to vacate the shops from the temple premises and keep the premises clean.

Meanwhile, devotees were allowed to offer worship in the temple this morning.

(With inputs from IANS and The Hindu)