A major fire broke out at the iconic Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday morning, causing temporary suspension of darshan for devotees. The blaze reportedly began near the Shankh Dwar, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air, visible from over a kilometer away.
According to preliminary reports, the fire originated from a battery installed above the temple’s CCTV control room. Authorities suspect an electrical malfunction or overheating as the cause. Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh later clarified that batteries at the pollution control board’s air quality monitoring system exploded, triggering the fire above the temple’s control room.
“Fifteen minutes back, the batteries at the pollution control board’s air quality management system exploded, which caused the fire. It is above the control room of the temple. Fire tenders reached and the fire was controlled. There are no casualties. Since the fire was at the control room, the ‘darshan’ was temporarily halted,” Singh said.
Four fire brigade vehicles were dispatched immediately and managed to control the flames swiftly, preventing further damage. No injuries or casualties have been reported.
Top officials from the Mahakal Temple Committee are on-site, monitoring the situation closely. Normal temple operations are expected to resume after safety assessments are completed.
