Yesterday at least 30 shops were damaged when a fire broke out in the complex of Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. Fire officials said the sanctum sanctorum was left intact but the ancient sculptures on the walls near Aayram Kaal Mandapam were damaged. It was reported the fire broke out at 10:40 P.M., near the East Gopuram (tower.)
It is said a short circuit may have led to the fire but the exact reason is unknown. From the preliminary inquiries, it is known the fire broke out after the shopkeepers shut their shops for the day around 10:30 P.M. A few eyewitness said the fire could be seen emerging from the Temple Museum side as well.
A Police Officer said a spark might have started from a shop and resulted in the fire which quickly spread to the other shops. A Senior Fire Service Official said, “We got information about the fire in shops near the 1,000 pillar mandapam in the temple. We rushed five fire tenders and controlled the fire from spreading.” The Official further added, “There is no damage to the temple. The old wooden door was saved by preventive action. The fire is now under control.”
Madurai District Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao along with the city Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal arrived at the spot to manage the situation. The Deputy Commissioner of Police Sasi Mohan explained the public entrance from the East of the Temple will be restricted for the next three days.
