Fire engulfs prasadam kitchen at Sri Kalahasteeswara temple

Tirupati: Panic gripped Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam in Srikalahasti on Thursday after a sudden fire engulfed its prasadam preparation kitchen, forcing staff to evacuate the premises. The blaze damaged cooking equipment and materials, but no casualties were reported.

The fire broke out in the temple’s potu (traditional kitchen), situated near fourth gopuram, where prasadam is prepared for offering to the presiding deity and later distributed among devotees. According to preliminary information, an electrical short circuit is suspected to have triggered the incident. Flames reportedly spread rapidly after ghee used for cooking caught fire from the stove, engulfing the entire kitchen hall. Thick smoke soon spread across surrounding premises, creating panic among those present. Kitchen employees initially attempted to put out the fire using available safety equipment. However, as the flames intensified, they evacuated the building to protect themselves.

Temple officials and police alerted fire department, following which firefighters rushed to the spot and brought situation under control.

As a precautionary measure, temple authorities temporarily suspended queue lines and restricted devotees’ entry into the affected area until the firefighting operations were completed. Temple EO BK Venkatesulu said prompt response of employees and fire personnel helped contain the blaze.

He confirmed that there was no loss of life and that damage was confined to the kitchen. Temple chairman Kotte Sai Prasad said all employees were safe and no other part of the temple had been affected.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti

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